Are Solar Irrigation Pumps next in line for promoting efficient groundwater and energy use ?

Solar-powered irrigation pumps are increasingly seen as an important alternative to address energy-groundwater nexus in developing world. As a result, huge subisidy is being provided in countries such as India for their adoption. However there are issues related to technical feasibility and economic viability of such option. Further, in absence of effective institutions and instruments (including water rights and energy pricing) to regulate groundwater abstraction, it seems the approach may do little to either reduce groundwater or energy use. I request group members to share there thoughts/experience on the same by providing examples from their own region. 

Taxonomy

• Water
• Pumps
• Energy

4 Answers

1. Dear Nitin

   The Solar Pumps technological has a clear technological edge, “GREEN TECHNOLOGY ” creating new benchmarks and upgrading standards for the industry. A solar PV water pumping system - commonly known as a solar pump - draws power from solar cell / modules to operate a motor pump set. Solar power pumps use specially developed and energy efficient motor pump sets to achieve higher discharge which off sets the high initial cost. A solar PV water pumping system consists of a number of solar PV modules connected in series - parallel combination to generate sufficient power to operate a motor pump. The solar PV modules are mounted on a metal frame in a manner that the mounting frame can be turned / tilted to ensure that the modules keep facing the sun throughout the day.

   Solar pumps fall into two major categories –

   1. surface, which includes pressure, delivery, and booster pumps &
   2. Submersible - primarily submersible well pumps.

   A solar-powered pump is a pump running on electricity generated by photovoltaic panels or the radiated thermal energy available from collected sunlight as opposed to grid electricity or diesel run water pumps. The operation of solar powered pumps is more economical mainly due to the lower operation and maintenance costs and has less environmental impact than pumps powered by an internal combustion engine (ICE). Solar pumps are useful where grid electricity is unavailable and alternative sources (in particular wind) do not provide sufficient energy.

   1 Comment

   1. Dear Prem,
      O&M cost and the efficiency of solar PV systems would depend on several factors, important being the physical environment of the region. Can you share some studies which show their role in addressing energy-groundwater nexus?

2. Solar water pumps may be especially useful in small scale or community based irrigation, as large scale irrigation requires large volumes of water that in turn require a large solar PV array. As said, in India the framing is dominated by marginal farm holders.

   1 Comment

   1. In India, groundwater rights remain attach to land rights. Only a small proportion of small and marginal farmers own wells. Further, those who have, may not spare their small land holding for installing solar panels. So it is quite likely that they will not get benefits.

3. True, Indian Govt trying to push Irrigation technologies which will be more energy efficient. Maharashtra Govt has decided to distribute 10,000 solar pumps to farmers in the 18 drought-affected districts of Maharashtra region.

   1 Comment

   1. Can you please let me know the districts?

4. India should know better - the government energy subsidies for pumping has caused widespread groundwater depletion. I recently spoke to a researcher at IWMI who is seeing a similar trend starting to happen in some parts of Ethiopia. Solar pumping has advantages, but it risks moving the problem to one of water resources - better groundwater research, data and regulation is essential, e.g. through the UPGro and REACH programmes.

   1 Comment

   1. I agree.