Stand-alone solar irrigation systems

Solar-powered irrigation or PV irrigation is a simple, effective and sustainable alternative to traditional pump systems.

In the absence of the electrical grid or when using a diesel generator on a regular basis is too costly, good farming lands are not used to the full. Unlike diesel generators, an automated solar irrigation system does not require technical maintenance, regular fuel supply, or human supervision. The simplicity of the system means less maintenance, which reduces its non-productive time and farm expenditures. Solar energy is free of charge and in abundance during periods of less than average rainfalls when agricultural crops need irrigation most. Such solution not only provides access to water to the remotest areas and ensures independence of unstable fuel prices, but also gives you a real opportunity to scale up your agricultural production and get more income by doing so.  

Solar-powered irrigation system supplies water to where it is needed and can be integrated into different types of existing irrigation systems, such as droplet, center pivot and so on. It is possible not to only supply water for crops directly, but also to collect and store it in a reservoir. The mechanism of an automated PV irrigation system is easy to transport and operate and is guaranteed to reduce the costs on the pumping of water and increase your crop yield. You do not have to be on-site in order to control the operation of the solar irrigation system since it is done remotely over the Internet. This solution represents totally controlled use of water for meeting crop water requirements. An additional advantage is that the solar irrigation system can be moved providing wider areas of farming lands with water supply.  

A set of equipment for solar irrigation comprises PV panels that produce electricity out of solar radiation and frequency changer ABB for pump stations that control the operation of a pump.  The simplicity of the system is the reason for its low initial price, short payback period and little to no maintenance needs. Since a solar irrigation system only operates during daytime hours, the need in a backup power source arises, and any diesel generator can meet this need. Providing 12-hour irrigation, 83% of energy needs are covered by a PV irrigation system. The system is compatible with all three-phase asynchronous motor pumps.

• Solar irrigation
• PV panels
• Frequency changer
• Pump
• Reservoir

Let us consider a real example of an operating solar irrigation system.

A portable PV irrigation system is installed in the field. On a sunny day, having operated for 7 hours (from 8 AM to 3 PM), the system provided 18 cubic meters of irrigation water for a land plot with a radius of 70 meters and filled a water tank with 3 tons of water. Once irrigation of the plot has been completed, the system can be easily moved to the next plot.

 Equipment:

•  Monocrystalline PV panels – 16 pieces;
• 5.5 kW three-phase frequency changer ABB ACS355 – 1 piece;
• Internal lighting protection -1 piece;
• 3 kW deep well pump.

The cost of the solution is $2500. In general, $1600 per 1 hectare of land can be taken as a basis. The payback period of the system is not more than 4 years, its service life is upwards of 25 years.