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Solar-Powered Pumping for Alleviating Energy Poverty: Sustainable Solutions for Agriculture Sector in Portugal

Year: 2025

Type: article

Abstract: Sustainable Development Goal7 highlights affordable and reliable energy access as a pervasive problem around the world, affecting millions of people struggling with energy poverty, and it hinders global social justice, economic prosperity, and quality of life. Addressing this problem is critical to achievingenvironmental stewardship and alleviating poverty. Green energies address energy poverty in nationsthat are already threatened. Solar systems aresustainable solutions for decentralizing clean energy. Photovoltaic (PV) minimizes emissions and dependency on fossil fuels. This study highlights the significance of RES integration in tackling energy poverty in industries. Coimbra, Portugal, is used as a case study to illustrate PV-powered irrigation networks and the agriculture sector. Results indicate the effectiveness of Portugal’s PV-powered pumping system, meeting 94.3% of water needs with an annual efficiency of 48.3%, and achieving a Net Present Value (NPV) of €22,469.73 and an Internal Rate of Return (IRR) of 74.24%, demonstrating strong economic viability over 20 years.With considerable electricity cost reductions and a strong return on investment, the solar-powered pumping system turns out to be a profitable project.

Source: IEEE Access

DOI: 10.1109/access.2025.3579783

Authors: Alireza Zabihi, Tripura Pidikiti, L. N. Sastry Varanasi, Gauri Kalnoor, Iskender Akkurt, V. B. Murali Krishna

Institutions: University of Coimbra, National Institute of Technology Andhra Pradesh, Manipal Academy of Higher Education, Süleyman Demirel Üniversitesi

Language: English

Topic: Engineering and Agricultural Innovations

Subfield: Aquatic Science

Field: Agricultural and Biological Sciences

Domain: Life Sciences