Plan for improving the efficiency and sustainability of irrigation

The projects included in the Plan have been selected at the proposal of the autonomous communities, in accordance with the requirements of environmental sustainability, energy efficiency and implementation of new technologies demanded by the European Union for the application of the recovery funds. As they are financed with these funds, the works must be completed by 2026. 

The total of this plan represents 563 million euros of public funds, which with 20% of private collaboration will mean an injection of 704 million euros and will involve the modernisation of more than 100,000 hectares of irrigated land. 

Examples of investments at local level:

Project to improve the water quality and optimal use of non-conventional waters and to integrate renewables in irrigation systems in the community of irrigation at the left bank of the Segura, (Spain, Alicante, Comunitat Valenciana)

With EUR 37,625,230 from the Recovery and resilience Facility, these irrigation modernisation works will impact 23.000 hectares and benefit 18.200 irrigators in the municipalities of Alicante, Campello, Crevillente, Elche, Muchamiel, Orihuela, San Juan and Santa Pola, all in the province of Alicante.

The objective of these actions is to improve water efficiency by enabling the use of unconventional and reclaimed water for irrigation and energy, by enabling self-consumption solar photovoltaic installations that save costs for irrigation operators and reduce CO₂ emissions into the atmosphere.

More information can be found here.

Project to improve water use and to promote water savings in SECTOR X and XI of the Flumen Canal (HUESCA)

With EUR 40,181,250 from the Recovery and Resilience Facility, this will benefit 457 irrigators on 6.731 hectares in the municipalities of Salillas, Huerto, Alberuela de Tubo, Lalueza, Capdesaso, Albalatillo and Sariñena, all in the province of Huesca.

This modernisation project will replace the current system with pressurised irrigation in Sector X and install pipes for the supply of water under natural pressure for both sectors. The new infrastructure will make it possible, on the one hand, to save water and fertilisers through more efficient management, to which telemonitoring will contribute, and, on the other hand, by removing the need for irrigation pressure systems, in particular by means of diesel pumps. This is expected to reduce the energy costs borne so far by irrigation operators and at the same time reduce greenhouse gas emissions.

More information can be found here.

Optimisation, digitisation of management and improvement of the quality of reclaimed water for agricultural irrigation in Porreres-Felanitx (Balearic Islands)

The project of modernisation and consolidation of irrigation in Porreres-Felanitx stems from the need to ensure the cultivation, mainly of apricots, carobs and almonds, of these municipalities of the Pla de Mallorca. It will help cope with the effects of droughts and to improve the regulation, management and use of water. The project will take advantage of the water produced by the Wastewater Treatment Station of Porreres and Felanitx so that this water can enter the irrigation network and be used in 211 hectares of 32 irrigators, which are representative of the continuity of the primary sector in the territory. This action will also improve water management through the digitisation of irrigation through the installation of a remote-control system. This intervention, which has a public-private nature, is articulated with the signing of an agreement between the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, through SEIASA (State Mercantile Society of Agricultural Infrastructures), and the irrigation community of Porreres-Felanitx.

Construction of an irrigation pond in La Palma (Canary Islands) 

The project involves the construction of a pond with a capacity of 100,000 cubic metres in the area of El Riachuelo, in the municipality of El Paso, as the head of the irrigation network. The improvement in the regulation of resources is intended to reduce energy consumption, since pumping from the private reservoirs in the Las Breñas area will no longer be necessary. 

In addition to the environmental and technical-economic improvements it will bring to irrigation, there will also be a new infrastructure for taking water from planes and helicopters in the event of fire. 

The project has a budget of 3,7 million euro.