Project: Project OPTIREG Activity: Water Product: Irrigation and drainage Geographic data: España Start date: May 2013 End date: December 2016 Efficient management in irrigation The modernization of irrigation through the National Irrigation Plan H-2008 has enabled reducing total water consumption by 15% (equivalent to the total urban water consumption in Spain), but on the other hand, energy costs have increased considerably, representing the main threat to the viability of the sector. This R&D project is aimed at optimizing the energy and water efficiency of irrigated areas so as to make them economically viable. Its specific objectives are: to increase efficiency in water-energy relationship; to incorporate renewable energies into irrigation; to make irrigation more sophisticated and economical, and therefore, more competitive; to comply with specific regulations on maintenance and management; and to provide new criteria for designing and exploiting irrigated areas.