Are solar photovoltaic irrigation systems the future of Agriculture?

Environmental Research Letters. DOI: 10.1088/1748-9326/acefe5 A new study finds that standalone solar photovoltaic irrigation systems have the potential to meet more than a third of the water needs for crops in small-scale farms across sub-Saharan Africa.

Can solar PV systems be used for irrigation?

Solar PV systems have been researched extensively for irrigation purposes due to the rise in Oil prices and the upscaling in commercialisation of PV technology. Based on the literature the most effective PV system is presented for the irrigation of a small scare remote rural farm with respect to the cost, pumping capacity and system efficiency.

Can PV water pumping systems be economically optimised for irrigation?

Campana et al. devised a novel optimisation process by which PV water pumping systems could be economically optimised for irrigational purposes. A simulation considering the availability of groundwater, water supply, the investment costs, and the revenue from the crop sale has been developed.

Can solar photovoltaic & solar thermal technologies be used for irrigation?

This investigation focused on the research undertaken on solar photovoltaic (PV) and solar thermal technologies for pumping water generally for irrigation of remote rural farms specifically considering the Sub-Saharan African region.

Are solar PV systems a good choice for water pumping?

A decrease in the cost of PV technology has meant many rural developments have been keen on utilising the technology because of this, a great amount of research has been conducted on solar PV technologies for water pumping in the recent years so much so that photovoltaic irrigation systems have become synonymous with solar-powered irrigation.

What is a solar irrigation system framework?

This framework was employed to calculate local irrigation needs, determine the necessary size and cost of technology components like water pumps, solar PV modules, batteries, and irrigation systems, and assess the economic prospects and sustainable development impacts of adopting solar pumps.