## 1 Introduction
A grid-connected hybrid renewable energy system example is described in [16], consisting of PV and wind power technologies applied on rural township in the Mediterranean climate region of central Catalonia (Spain). Therefore, there is a lack of contributions focusing on grid-connected PV pumping systems for water supplies and human consumption where self-consumption and net-metering schemes are evaluated. This lack of contributions thus implies that \((i)\) analysis of global irrigation pumping is not available in the specific literature; \((ii)\) these solutions depend on different variables that must be evaluated accordingly; and \((iii)\) PV pumping solutions need to be analyzed annually to include the problem of low use of these PV installations depending on the crops. In fact, optimal use and exploitation of the facility should be properly evaluated. Moreover, it is necessary to analyze energy generated in periods when irrigation is not demanded by crops and periods when an excess of PV generation power is provided by the installation. Some studies confirm that PV installations are usually oversized for individual PV solar pumping solutions [17], which are used for irrigation purposes only 180-200 h per year. In most cases, for the rest of the potential PV solar hours, when energy is available from their locations, PV power plants are disconnected from the grid and this additional energy is not used as a potential resource. For this reason, the use of this surplus energy, which in some cases could reach 80-90% of the annual potential energy generated by the PV system, must be analyzed in detail. In this way, [PERSON] et al. affirm that in irrigated agriculture, a producer-consumer can be systematically exposed to energy shortfalls and surpluses [18]. An example of hybrid power plant with wind turbines, photovoltaic panels, and compressed air energy storage is described in [19], where positive income due to sale of surplus energy to the national power grid is analyzed. Presently, the idea of systems organized in agro-smart grids or rural smart grids, conceived as distributed generation in rural areas, has been widely studied [20; 21; 22; 23]. This organizational structure represents an alternative way of carrying out energy development integration, energy storage, automation, measurement systems, information, and communication related to power generation/demand. In addition, it provides not only better and more efficient distribution/production energy management [24], but also an optimal localized use of resources [25; 26]. This concept also includes efficient water management, automation, and precision agriculture, and generation/demand balance in rural areas. Figure 1 summarizes schematically the integration of the agricultural sector into a smart grid. However, one of the main limitations of these solutions is the power line construction cost and the auxiliary elements to inject the power from those PV power plants to the grid. Moreover, [PERSON] affirms that it is difficult to connect millions of scattered wells, fitted with solar pumps (earlier operating with diesel pumps), to the power grid [27]. Another important drawback of these systems in general--including other sectors such as the residential sector [28]--is the current legislation and requirements on distributed generation and net-metering policies. [PERSON] et al. affirm that there is a lack of a universal policy harmonizing the respective legislations of the EU member countries in terms of net-metering schemes [29]. Nevertheless, there is a favorable legislative framework for this type of facility in some countries such as Belgium and Denmark, in other countries, such as Spain, there is currently no advantageous regulation for net-metering implementation [30].