Original Articles
4 November 2025
Early Access
https://doi.org/10.4081/jae.2025.1780

Portable solar-powered irrigation control station into a container for sustainable agriculture

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Sustainability, renewable energy, photovoltaics irrigation, water management
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Authors

Antonio Garcia-Chica
agc989@ual.es
Department of Engineering, University of Almeria, Spain.
Angel Mariano Rodriguez-Perez
Department of Mining, Mechanical, Energy and Construction Engineering, University of Huelva, Spain.
Rosa Maria Chica
Department of Engineering, University of Almeria, Spain.
Julio Jose Caparros Mancera
Department of Mining, Mechanical, Energy and Construction Engineering, University of Huelva, Spain.
Cesar Antonio Rodriguez Gonzalez
Department of Mining, Mechanical, Energy and Construction Engineering, University of Huelva, Spain.

This study explores the design and adaptation of a shipping container into a portable irrigation control station for agricultural operations. The project leverages the structural durability and mobility of containers to offer a versatile and sustainable solution for irrigation management. By integrating irrigation equipment, control systems, and energy storage, this unit provides an efficient and cost-effective alternative to traditional irrigation stations. A key advantage of this innovation is its mobility, allowing the container to be easily relocated between farms using a crane truck. This feature optimizes its use in seasonal crop rotations and in agricultural operations spread across different locations. The system operates autonomously, harnessing photovoltaic solar energy stored in batteries, thereby eliminating reliance on fossil fuels and significantly reducing the environmental impact of agricultural irrigation. The system was designed to irrigate 4 hectares, with a pump flow rate of 26 L/s, a total power load of 3.47 kW, and the capacity to supply a crop area of up to 4 ha under typical operating conditions. Beyond its operational efficiency, the study emphasizes the environmental benefits of repurposing shipping containers, contributing to waste reduction and mitigating ecological degradation. This approach aligns with sustainability principles in agriculture, promoting the responsible and efficient use of water and energy resources in decentralized irrigation systems.

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How to Cite



“Portable solar-powered irrigation control station into a container for sustainable agriculture” (2025) Journal of Agricultural Engineering [Preprint]. doi:10.4081/jae.2025.1780.
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