Redesign of Large-Scale Irrigation Systems for Flexible Energy Storage

The increase of energy storage is a key factor in the development of modern energy systems. The flexibility provided by energy storage allows for greater robustness in the face of increasing uncertainty derived from the essence of renewable energy sources. In this context, we focus on large-scale irrigation systems as a new actor managing the energy available in stored water. This article describes the main features of an open-source Python-based optimisation tool developed to redesign irrigation systems as large energy accumulators while maintaining their primary function. The tool provides the size of the new equipment to be installed, taking into account optimal system operation. The effectiveness of the proposed tool is illustrated by a study case based on a real irrigation system and three scenarios. The results show the potential for using this energy during low usage periods such as winter with low investment costs.