The Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food (MAPA), through the State Mercantile Society of Agrarian Infrastructures (Seiasa) carries out works of modernization and improvement of water and energy efficiency in the irrigated area of Valderredible, with a budget of 1,699,149.74 euros.
The works, within the framework of the program for the improvement of efficiency and sustainability in irrigation included in the Plan of Recovery, Transformation and Resilience of the Spanish Economy, are carried out through two projects in the communities of irrigators of Ruijas-Ebro and Villamoñico-Revelillas, both in the Cantabrian municipality of Valderredible, and will involve the modernization of 696 hectares that cultivate 202 irrigators.
The project of installation of solar panels for pumping and installation of hydrants with remote control equipment in the Community of Regantes Ruijas-Ebro has a budget of 1,477,691 euros and will benefit 189 regantes that cultivate 481 hectares.
The works aim to achieve the improvement and modernization of irrigation through greater energy efficiency. The action includes the installation of a photovoltaic solar plant and plot hydrants that allow the control of the water applied through irrigation.
The photovoltaic solar plant will be located in the immediate vicinity of the town of Ruerrero and will allow to supplement the energy supply by connecting it through underground electricity line to the nearby existing pumping, which will allow to reduce the current conventional energy costs for the irrigation community.
Likewise, the improvement of the current water intake in the plot will be carried out by installing 157 hydrant casetas that will house in their interior hydraulic elements (hunting filter, cutting valve, counter, hydraulic valve with capacity for pressure regulation and flow limitation), as well as the system that will allow the remote measurement of the water consumed.
The action, which has been entrusted to the public company Tragsa and which has an execution time of eight months, will allow an improvement in energy efficiency along with the implementation of new technologies, which also promotes a more efficient use of water.
In addition, the project to improve water harvesting and installation of hydrants with remote control equipment in the Community of Regantes Villamoñico-Revelillas has a budget of 221,458.74 euros and plans to modernize 215 hectares corresponding to 13 regantes.
This project, which has also been commissioned by the public company Tragsa with an execution period of six 6 months, plans to increase efficiency in the measurement and management of irrigation water volumes, as well as the incorporation of new technologies.
At the same current point of catchment, the improvement of the water intake of the Olzama stream will be carried out, through the execution of a factory work with control valve and the installation of a meter that will allow the control of the flow of water captured and the connection to the existing network. Likewise, the improvement of the current water intake in the plot will be carried out by installing 34 hydrant casetas that will house in their interior hydraulic elements (hunting filter, cutting valve, counter, hydraulic valve with capacity for pressure regulation and flow limitation), as well as the system that will allow the remote measurement of the water consumed.
Being included in the Recovery, Transformation and Resilience Plan, these actions are co-financed with Next Generation funds from the European Union. The public contribution covers a maximum of 80% of the cost of eligible expenses, while the communities of irrigators contribute the rest.