Periodic Reporting for period 1 - SolAqua (Accessible, reliable and affordable solar irrigation for Europe and beyond)
Período documentado: 2020-10-01 hasta 2022-03-31
SolAqua’s overall objective is to increase the share of renewable energy (RE) consumption in Europe by facilitating the market uptake of solar irrigation (SI) in the farming sector.
Solar Irrigation (SI) is based on a combination of photovoltaic (PV) technology, hydraulic engineering and high-efficiency water management techniques to optimize irrigated farming. The consortium of SolAqua, which represents more than 70% of EU irrigators, is well aware of the potential of SI to decisively improve the sustainability of farming and rural communities in Europe. Nevertheless, in order to fulfil this potential, it is necessary to overcome the existing barriers to the market uptake of SI. To do this, SolAqua will accelerate the clean energy transition in EU agriculture by facilitating the development of a well-functioning market for SI. This will be done by producing and exploiting a set of 7 Key Enabling Materials and Tools (KEMT) and by creating awareness, skills and action opportunities among more than 150,000 farmers, 70 local SMEs and 40 Public Administrations in Europe and beyond.
The execution of SolAqua will result not only in a reduction of the cost of SI for farmers but also in the availability of effective standards for consumers and environmental protection, more efficient policies and supporting schemes and new business opportunities for SMEs. Furthermore, in order to exploit the results of the project and to trigger the SI market, SolAqua will facilitate a joint promotion of more than 100 MW of reliable and affordable SI led by the end-users themselves; the farmers. In order to do this, SolAqua will facilitate action-oriented dialogue among the relevant SI stakeholders, including:
1) Irrigators, who are the end-users of the results of the project.
2) SMEs with the potential to become installers and operators of SI systems.
3) Investors looking for low-risk, long-term investments
4) Public Authorities involved in the regulation and supporting of the farming and the RE sectors.
Here, we will refer to these stakeholders collectively as ISINPA.
Thus, in order to achieve the overall objective of increasing the share of RE in the European farming sector by facilitating SI market uptake, SolAqua is going to be established with the following specific objectives:
SO1. Produce and disseminate a set of 7 KEMT, designed to solve technical, economic and legal issues which are acting as barriers for the market uptake of SI.
SO2. Produce awareness and skills of SI among ISINPA in six countries (France, Italy, Spain, Romania, Portugal and Morocco) with a combined SI potential of more than 14 GW. At least 150,000 potential end-users, 70 SMEs equipped with SI technical skills and 38 Public Authorities. Also, institutional investors will be attracted to provide at least € 150 M.
SO3. Trigger the European SI market by facilitating a joint promotion of at least 100 MW of SI.
SO4. Increase the effectiveness of public supporting schemes for on-farm investments for the promotion of SI. SolAqua will produce a new EAFRD financial instrument that will be implemented in 3 European regions and will support more than 40 MW of new SI capacity.
SO5. Facilitate market uptake of reliable and affordable SI in markets outside the EU. SolAqua will focus on the emergent market of Morocco.
Solar Irrigation (SI) is based on a combination of photovoltaic (PV) technology, hydraulic engineering and high-efficiency water management techniques to optimize irrigated farming. The consortium of SolAqua, which represents more than 70% of EU irrigators, is well aware of the potential of SI to decisively improve the sustainability of farming and rural communities in Europe. Nevertheless, in order to fulfil this potential, it is necessary to overcome the existing barriers to the market uptake of SI. To do this, SolAqua will accelerate the clean energy transition in EU agriculture by facilitating the development of a well-functioning market for SI. This will be done by producing and exploiting a set of 7 Key Enabling Materials and Tools (KEMT) and by creating awareness, skills and action opportunities among more than 150,000 farmers, 70 local SMEs and 40 Public Administrations in Europe and beyond.
The execution of SolAqua will result not only in a reduction of the cost of SI for farmers but also in the availability of effective standards for consumers and environmental protection, more efficient policies and supporting schemes and new business opportunities for SMEs. Furthermore, in order to exploit the results of the project and to trigger the SI market, SolAqua will facilitate a joint promotion of more than 100 MW of reliable and affordable SI led by the end-users themselves; the farmers. In order to do this, SolAqua will facilitate action-oriented dialogue among the relevant SI stakeholders, including:
1) Irrigators, who are the end-users of the results of the project.
2) SMEs with the potential to become installers and operators of SI systems.
3) Investors looking for low-risk, long-term investments
4) Public Authorities involved in the regulation and supporting of the farming and the RE sectors.
Here, we will refer to these stakeholders collectively as ISINPA.
Thus, in order to achieve the overall objective of increasing the share of RE in the European farming sector by facilitating SI market uptake, SolAqua is going to be established with the following specific objectives:
SO1. Produce and disseminate a set of 7 KEMT, designed to solve technical, economic and legal issues which are acting as barriers for the market uptake of SI.
SO2. Produce awareness and skills of SI among ISINPA in six countries (France, Italy, Spain, Romania, Portugal and Morocco) with a combined SI potential of more than 14 GW. At least 150,000 potential end-users, 70 SMEs equipped with SI technical skills and 38 Public Authorities. Also, institutional investors will be attracted to provide at least € 150 M.
SO3. Trigger the European SI market by facilitating a joint promotion of at least 100 MW of SI.
SO4. Increase the effectiveness of public supporting schemes for on-farm investments for the promotion of SI. SolAqua will produce a new EAFRD financial instrument that will be implemented in 3 European regions and will support more than 40 MW of new SI capacity.
SO5. Facilitate market uptake of reliable and affordable SI in markets outside the EU. SolAqua will focus on the emergent market of Morocco.
The summary of the work carried out during the reporting period towards the achievement of each specific objective is the following:
SO1: the 6 KEMTs planned for the first period of the project have been elaborated and delivered on due time as KEMT 1 (D 2.10) KEMT 2 (D 2.6) KEMT 3 (D 2.5) KEMT 4 (D 2.7) KEMT 5 (D 2.8) and KEMT 6 (D 2.12). KEMT 7 is well advanced and will be completed on month 22 as D 2.13 according to the GA.
SO2: SOLAQUA has already created awareness and interest for PV irrigation systems (PVIS) in 107,200 farmers. Moreover, the dissemination and communication activities have impacted in 8,958 farmers through the website, 128,877 through the social networks and 698,168 through the different events organized. Furthermore, 66 SMEs and professionals interested in installing PVIS are being trained.
SO3: a self-assessment tool together with different forms to collect the required data from interested farmers, irrigator communities and agro-industries have been prepared and, as a result, a database has been generated with potential PV irrigation systems that accumulate a total power of 268 MWp that has be delivered as D 4.1.
SO4: The work has been developed in two different lines: the first one, the training of the three partners that represent the Public Authorities in the consortium (GA, GV and CJC) in the "Best practices for PA regulation" (D2.12) to apply their conclusions in their respective regulations. Second, GA, GVal and CJC have initiated the necessary actions to include the EAFRD financial instrument, which is being developed under WP2 (to be delivered in month 22 as D2.13) in their respective RDPs.
SO5: Once the different KEMTs have been produced in the framework of WP2, the main materials oriented to farmers and installers (the leaflets (D 2.1) the Manual for irrigators (D 2.2) and the Best Practices for Solar Irrigation Systems (D 2.10)) have been contextualized to the Moroccan market and translated to French and Arabic. These adapted materials have been delivered as D 5.1.
SO1: the 6 KEMTs planned for the first period of the project have been elaborated and delivered on due time as KEMT 1 (D 2.10) KEMT 2 (D 2.6) KEMT 3 (D 2.5) KEMT 4 (D 2.7) KEMT 5 (D 2.8) and KEMT 6 (D 2.12). KEMT 7 is well advanced and will be completed on month 22 as D 2.13 according to the GA.
SO2: SOLAQUA has already created awareness and interest for PV irrigation systems (PVIS) in 107,200 farmers. Moreover, the dissemination and communication activities have impacted in 8,958 farmers through the website, 128,877 through the social networks and 698,168 through the different events organized. Furthermore, 66 SMEs and professionals interested in installing PVIS are being trained.
SO3: a self-assessment tool together with different forms to collect the required data from interested farmers, irrigator communities and agro-industries have been prepared and, as a result, a database has been generated with potential PV irrigation systems that accumulate a total power of 268 MWp that has be delivered as D 4.1.
SO4: The work has been developed in two different lines: the first one, the training of the three partners that represent the Public Authorities in the consortium (GA, GV and CJC) in the "Best practices for PA regulation" (D2.12) to apply their conclusions in their respective regulations. Second, GA, GVal and CJC have initiated the necessary actions to include the EAFRD financial instrument, which is being developed under WP2 (to be delivered in month 22 as D2.13) in their respective RDPs.
SO5: Once the different KEMTs have been produced in the framework of WP2, the main materials oriented to farmers and installers (the leaflets (D 2.1) the Manual for irrigators (D 2.2) and the Best Practices for Solar Irrigation Systems (D 2.10)) have been contextualized to the Moroccan market and translated to French and Arabic. These adapted materials have been delivered as D 5.1.
The expected results and impacts, together with the key performance indicators (KPIs) to measure them, are the following:
Expected Impact 1: “Facilitate the wider uptake of renewable energy generation in the energy and industrial sectors leading to an increase share of renewable energy in the final energy consumption by 2030”. Its KPIs are:
• KPI 1: SolAqua will create awareness about SI in a number of potential end-users (at least 150,000 potential end-users although SOLAQUA consortium expects to reach 300,000), equivalent to at least 20% of the new PV installed capacity required to meet the EU objectives of renewable energy generation for this technology (16 GW).
• KPI 2: SolAqua will directly facilitate the promotion of at least 100 MW of new renewable energy installed capacity SI systems using the project´s KEMTs, mobilizing more than € 120 M in green investments.
Expected Impact 2: “Lead to substantial and measurable reductions for project developments, whilst still fully addressing the needs for environmental impact assessments and public engagement”. Its KPIs are:
• KPI 3: Production and dissemination of 7 KEMT that jointly allow for the reduction of up to 50% of the development costs of SI.
• KPI 4: Production of an environmental assessment methodology for SI and dissemination to at least 400 key professionals and policy makers.
Expected Impact 3: “Develop more informed policy, market support and financial frameworks, notably at national, regional and local level, leading to more cost-effective support schemes and lower financing costs for RES facilities”. Its KPIs are:
• KPI 5: Production of an EAFRD financial instrument suitable to provide at least € 40 M/year of funds to develop SI.
• KPI 6: Dissemination of the EAFRD financial instrument to 100% of the Managing Authorities of Rural Development Plans in regions with irrigation.
Expected Impact 4: “Facilitate European SMEs access to non-EU solar irrigation markets with high growth potential”. Its KPI is:
• KPI 7: Facilitate at least 15 European SMEs to pioneer the Moroccan solar irrigation market.
Expected Impact 1: “Facilitate the wider uptake of renewable energy generation in the energy and industrial sectors leading to an increase share of renewable energy in the final energy consumption by 2030”. Its KPIs are:
• KPI 1: SolAqua will create awareness about SI in a number of potential end-users (at least 150,000 potential end-users although SOLAQUA consortium expects to reach 300,000), equivalent to at least 20% of the new PV installed capacity required to meet the EU objectives of renewable energy generation for this technology (16 GW).
• KPI 2: SolAqua will directly facilitate the promotion of at least 100 MW of new renewable energy installed capacity SI systems using the project´s KEMTs, mobilizing more than € 120 M in green investments.
Expected Impact 2: “Lead to substantial and measurable reductions for project developments, whilst still fully addressing the needs for environmental impact assessments and public engagement”. Its KPIs are:
• KPI 3: Production and dissemination of 7 KEMT that jointly allow for the reduction of up to 50% of the development costs of SI.
• KPI 4: Production of an environmental assessment methodology for SI and dissemination to at least 400 key professionals and policy makers.
Expected Impact 3: “Develop more informed policy, market support and financial frameworks, notably at national, regional and local level, leading to more cost-effective support schemes and lower financing costs for RES facilities”. Its KPIs are:
• KPI 5: Production of an EAFRD financial instrument suitable to provide at least € 40 M/year of funds to develop SI.
• KPI 6: Dissemination of the EAFRD financial instrument to 100% of the Managing Authorities of Rural Development Plans in regions with irrigation.
Expected Impact 4: “Facilitate European SMEs access to non-EU solar irrigation markets with high growth potential”. Its KPI is:
• KPI 7: Facilitate at least 15 European SMEs to pioneer the Moroccan solar irrigation market.