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While the modernization of irrigation techniques in recent years has improved water use efficiency, the substitution of open channels by pressurized pipes led to a substantial increase in the energy used in irrigated agriculture. Given the concern for energy savings and sustainability, official administrations have promoted several initiatives to improve energy efficiency in irrigated agriculture, and researchers have developed different tools for the same. Although energy audits have been conducted in irrigation networks managed by Water Users' Associations, the implementation of energy conservation measures proposed in these audits has not been always successful. This paper, which reviews the energy aspects of irrigation systems modernized in recent decades in Spain and in other countries, considers the characteristics and special features of Water Users' Associations and proposes an energy management system (EMS) for the same. The stages of the EMS are described, beginning with the definition of energy policy and the establishment, implementation and verification of energy plans, the essential conditions to guarantee the success of the EMS are described, in which energy audits are just a part of a process of continual improvement of energy efficiency. A Strategy for Efficient Energy Management has been implemented in a Water Users' Association in southeast Spain. The improvement measures proposed in the first energy plan were implemented, and an increase from 60 to 65 % in average energy efficiency was achieved. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: We present a novel transmission expansion planning model that explicitly considers a multi-year planning horizon. The proposed formulation is a mixed-integer linear problem that can be solved using commercially available software. The algorithm determines the best overall transmission expansion plan, reflecting both investment and operational costs. To analyze the results obtained from the model, we use a set of efficiency metrics to appraise the effect of the expansion among generators and demands, as well as congestion metrics to measure changes in nodal prices and line congestions. This paper also provides a case study that considers the expansion plan for a transmission system based on the one of mainland Spain. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]