Techno-economic and environmental evaluation of the performance of a solar water pumping system in arid and desert climates

This study introduces a refined techno-economic, demand-oriented methodology to assessment and optimization of solar water pumping systems in line with the needs of sustainable agriculture in arid, water-limited regions. For Baghdad, Iraq, winter wheat, we balanced technical performance versus economic viability. System performance for three fixed-tilt angle strategies was analyzed using PVsyst software: summer-tuned (17°), winter-tuned (47°), and annual-tuned (28°). The analysis revealed the most efficient to be the summer-optimized tilt angle of 17°. This approach not only boasts the highest high-performance ratio but also yields the highest average volume of pumped water (298.8 m³/day) precisely when it is most critical: during the plant's crucial growth stage. Moreover, the 17° tilt angle has the highest overall system and pump performance coupled with the lowest percentage of missing water. The approach is also the most cost-effective, with the lowest water cost at 0.4 $/m³. These findings unequivocally prove that a peak-demand-optimized, demand-based design is technically superior and less expensive than conventional annually optimized solutions. This research offers an adaptable and reliable framework for the formulation and implementation of effective solar water pumping systems; hence, it greatly enhances food and water security in desert areas.