AGISTIN: Transformation of Irrigation Systems into Energy Storage for a Sustainable Energy Transition

The energy transition is transforming the foundations of the electricity grid, driven by the large-scale deployment of renewable generation based on power electronics and the gradual phase-out of conventional fossil fuel generation. In this evolving landscape, grid operators require support systems that enhance flexibility, as renewable generation is inherently variable. One such system is energy storage, which will play a crucial role in maintaining grid stability and reliability.

The Centre for Technological Innovation in Static Converters and Drives (CITCEA) at the Universitat Politècnica de Catalunya - BarcelonaTech (UPC) is working on AGISTIN, a project aimed at analysing, demonstrating, and integrating innovative forms of energy storage and their connection to the electricity grid and end-users. The project will develop systems that enable the integration of energy storage with local renewable sources and new direct current (DC) applications. This approach, known as DC coupling, is already applied in hybrid solar panel and battery systems. However, AGISTIN goes a step further by also incorporating end-users, system integrators, and the grid itself.

AGISTIN will develop open-source advanced control algorithms to coordinate all system elements (storage, renewables, and users). System integrators and power electronics manufacturers will be able to use these algorithms to create customized solutions.

AGISTIN's solutions will be demonstrated in two pilot projects:

1. Demonstrator in Spain: Led by UPC, this pilot will explore the potential of using large-scale irrigation systems as energy storage, in addition to their primary function.

2. Demonstrator in the Netherlands: This pilot will showcase the use of energy storage and advanced controls to maximize the utilization of renewable energy in a renewable hydrogen generation facility.
   
   

Pilot in Segrià Sud: Innovation and Sustainability

In Catalonia, the pilot led by UPC, alongside Infraestructures.cat and the Irrigation Community of Segrià Sud, will integrate energy storage technologies into pumping systems, demonstrating the potential of irrigation systems as an energy storage medium.

The Segrià Sud irrigation system, composed of multiple interconnected reservoirs and pipelines, is already an efficient water management solution. Now, it will be transformed into an energy storage model inspired by reversible hydropower plants, integrating solar panels and advanced storage systems to enhance operational efficiency and sustainability. This transformation will also improve water management capacity, optimize pumping operations, and reduce operational costs.

The integration of solar panels will increase the sustainability and profitability of the system, while the addition of storage systems, combined with smart control mechanisms, will help reduce strain on the electricity grid during low-demand periods and supply energy during peak demand.

This solution has significant potential due to the large number of distributed irrigation systems across Catalonia and Spain. Coordinating these energy services across multiple locations could be key to the energy transition, leveraging their distributed storage capacity.

The Segrià Sud pilot is also supported by CARTIF, CIEMAT, Geyser Batteries, RINA, and EPRI Europe, with additional backing from irrigation communities such as Les Planes i Aixalelles and Garrigues-Sud.

Impact and Objectives

Coordinating energy services from multiple locations can be a key enabler of the energy transition, thanks to the potential of distributed storage capacity. This solution will contribute to:

• Reducing operational costs for farmers while providing new energy services.

• Enhancing the resilience, stability, and reliability of the electricity grid.

• Promoting the integration of renewable energy into the grid.
  
  

Budget and Duration

The total budget for the AGISTIN project is €8,788,273.75. Led by EPRI Europe, the project is planned to run for four years (January 2023 – December 2026) and involves 14 partners from 9 different countries. AGISTIN is supported by the European Union’s Horizon Europe programme (GA No. 101096197).