The Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, through the State Mercantile Society of Agrarian Infrastructures (SEIASA), has launched the execution of two projects by which the general community of irrigators of the Canal del Zújar (Badajoz) will be able to expand its photovoltaic facilities and modernize its remote control system, thanks to a total investment of 10,778,339.75 euros.
PHOTOVOLTAIC SOLAR PLANT
The energy modernization project through a solar photovoltaic plant in the irrigated area of Zújar has a budget of 3,655,781.59 euros and an execution time of 9 months. The action benefits 7,240 irrigators and affects 3,674 hectares in Guareña and 3,073 hectares in Villagonzalo.
The objective of the project is the execution of two photovoltaic plants, through the expansion of the Guareña solar field with panels placed on prefabricated concrete pieces and the installation of a floating plant on the regulation pond number 6 of the Zújar canal, distributed in two islands, to feed the pumping of the irrigation in Villagonzalo.
TELECONTROL
The telecontrol system modernization project has a budget of 7,122,558.16 euros and an execution period of 24 months.
The performance will improve the remote control of the 20,695 hectares and will benefit its 7,240 irrigators in the municipal areas of Villanueva de la Serena, Don Benito, Medellín, Mengabril, Valdetorres, Guareña, Oliva de Mérida, Villagonzalo, La Zarza and Alange (Badajoz).
This project plans to replace the existing GPRS remote control system with a new wireless communication protocol system. The control center will be equipped with new equipment and tools so that the community of irrigators can manage the entire irrigated area in a much more efficient and safe way.
The irrigators will also have a new application for remote control of their hydrants from their mobile phones. This project also includes the replacement of at least 1,722 hydraulic valves with counter, due to the degradation of the internal parts that have suffered the current ones as a result of their use and that cause errors in reading the volumes of water consumed.
Both actions, which are part of the program for the improvement and efficiency of sustainability in irrigation of the Recovery, Transformation and Resilience Plan (PRTR), are financed by Next Generation funds of the European Union, so the public contribution will be a maximum of 80% of the cost of the eligible expenses. The remaining 20% are contributed by the communities of irrigators and users.