Abstract

A comparative environmental and economic impact analysis between a hybrid pump-as-turbine/solar pilot system (PAT-PV) and a traditional diesel generator, with the innovation of the seasonal energy supply preconditions in an off-grid farm in Southern Spain was conducted. The results show lower climate change, fossil fuels, and dissipated water burdens over a 20-year lifespan, for the hybrid PAT-PV system, especially for fossil fuels (40-times lower). However, there was an increased demand for minerals and metals compared with the diesel generator, mostly due to the batteries and electronic components contribution, representing between 66% and 87% of the burdens. The hybrid PAT-PV system presented a lower total cost, but a higher investment, with an 8-year payback period. The low energy demand of the farm represented only 2.2% of the energy potential generation of the hybrid PAT-PV system, with a higher impact per kWh of energy than expected. The total use of the energy generated was proven to be essential, decreasing the environmental impacts up to 45 times, which provide a way to further reduce fossil energy consumption at farm level, as surplus energy could be used to power electric vehicles or tools, contributing to the reduction of GHG emissions, for a more sustainable agriculture. (C) 2021 Published by Elsevier Ltd.