This report discusses the effects of solar radiation and total system head on techno-economics of a PV groundwater pumping irrigation system designed for sustainable agricultural production. The materials and methods of the study include crop water requirements, estimated pumping rates, estimations of PV-array ratings and solar charge controllers, and economic estimations of PV-pumping system(s). The results of the study also include an environmental impact analysis.
The study shows that installing a Photovoltaic Water Pumping System (PVWP) system represents the best technical and economic solution to drive a water pump that provides water for sprinkler irrigation. This application could be applied in AgriSolar operations that include sprinklers and agricultural land.
The purpose of this study was to describe the development of a solar-powered submersible pump system without the use of batteries in agriculture. The submersible pump system used a solar drive to run it. The implementation uses a combination of solar trackers, water storage tanks, power converters, and stabilizers. The results of the study explained that solar trackers increased the efficiency of solar units that track the sun throughout the day and convert solar energy into DC electrical power.
This paper presents solar-powered irrigation systems (SPIS) as a clean energy option for agriculture and rural electrification. Included is an overview of practice for SPISs, including how the sustainability of SPIS greatly depends on how water resources are managed.
This paper proposes a solution for the present energy crisis for Indian farmers. It introduces a system consisting of a solar-powered water pump along with an automatic water flow control using a moisture sensor. This system could be applied to AgriSolar operations that required water pumping for various applications on a farm operation.
This paper presents the design of a solar tracking system via LDR sensor values to harness maximum solar energy that is converted into electrical energy which in turn is used to power the irrigation system. This system can be applied in AgriSolar operations where irrigation systems are included.
This paper presents an approach to minimize the human interface for the agriculture sector, which provides comfort to the farmer in monitoring and performs automatic irrigation operation. The approach discussed here can be applied to AgriSolar operations and development requiring irrigation.
This publication gives an introduction to solar-powered livestock-watering systems, including discussions of cost, components, and terminology, as well as some suggestions for designing and installing these systems.
Solar-based solutions can provide reliable, cost-effective, and environmentally sustainable energy for decentralized irrigation services. This paper analyzes the key drivers behind the adoption of solar pumping technology and brings to the forefront the cross-sector aspects that should be considered in program design and implementation.
This paper presents a prototype of an automated-irrigation system for installation in the field. After the prototype development, the use of a previously built photovoltaic microgeneration is analyzed in order to insert the electricity generated in the automated irrigation system.
This paper identifies a common problem in Namibia, Africa, is inconsistent irrigation water supply. The objective of this paper is to explore solar powered irrigation systems as a possible solution to provide sustainable irrigation water supply. Some topics discussed in this paper may help in developing and designing AgriSolar operations in similiar demographic areas.
This paper discusses development of a solar powered irrigation system using software design called Supervisory Control Data Acquisition (SCADA). The paper shows that this application can be quite useful in areas, such as AgriSolar sites, where there is plenty of sunshine but insufficient water to carry out farming activities, such as rubber plantation, strawberry plantation, or any plantation, that requires frequent watering.
This paper addresses water scarcity and food crisis by designing and implementing a smart irrigation system. It presents the details of a solar-powered automated irrigation system that dispenses the exact amount of water required depending on the soil moisture, hence minimizing the waste of water. AgriSolar operations that require irrigation may benefit from the topics discussed in this report.
The objective of this paper is to design and construct an automatic irrigation system powered by PV panels on a laboratory level. The paper states that the utilization of a photovoltaic (PV), off-grid solar system could be the solution for pumping and irrigation systems in Palestine. The methods used here include using a humidity sensor in the soil and temperature sensor in the air to test the need for the irrigation system.
This paper shows that inSolar photovoltaic energy is positioned to play a major role in the electricity generation mix of Mediterranean countries. This paper analyzes the profitability of a hypothetical agro-photovoltaics (APV) system deployed on irrigated arable lands of southwestern Spain. AgriSolar operations requiring and including irrigation methods may benefit from topics discussed in this paper.
This paper provides insight on the trade-offs of co-locating agriculture and solar photovoltaic infrastructure by analyzing microclimatic conditions, PV panel temperature, soil moisture and irrigation water use, plant ecophysiological function and plant biomass production within this agrivoltaics ecosystem and in traditional PV installations and agricultural settings.
NREL, Dennis Schroeder
Photo by Dennis Schroeder / NREL