Solar Pumps Transforming Rural Agricultural Landscape
Posted on : Friday, 10th August 2018
Throughout the developing world, solar pumps are changing the agricultural landscape. The availability of power throughout the year, as well as government interest across the globe, are benefits in the fight against climate change.
An analysis shows that small solar pumps are a better alternative for 11% of the contemporary and future small motorized fuel hydrocarbon pumps on smallholder estates.
The cost of energy has been an issue and often biased towards the rural communities around the world including some parts of the developed countries due to accessibility and maintenance cost issues. Rural areas often are subsidized or pay a higher price for energy than usual.
According to a 2018 report from the International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA), Asia has more than tripled its total capacity to 4.3 GW in 2017 from 1.3 GW in 2008 in solar irrigation pumping. Countries from Asia like India, Bangladesh, and the Philippines are taking a lead in the revolution. Currently, in Bangladesh, 923 pumps are operational with a cumulative capacity of 18MW. The goal is to have 50000 solar pumps by 2025.
According to the Ministry of New and Renewable Energy, India, in neighboring India, 127,600 solar pumps have been installed by 2017. In 2014, India planned to replace 26 million groundwater pumps, mainly diesel run for irrigation with more efficient pumps that run on solar power. In the Philippines, the “first and biggest” solar-powered irrigation system started operating in 2018.
If one looks at Africa, the potential is tremendous. Less than 4% of farmland in sub-Saharan Africa is currently under irrigation, compared to 40% in Asia. Studies have shown that in countries like Zambia, Malawi, Benin, Ethiopia, Kenya, and the quality of irrigation through solar pumps have advanced and the costs have declined. In the process, they raise farmers’ incomes and allow countries to lower carbon emissions and meet climate commitments. For example, Kenya plans to eliminate 3 million tonnes CO2 of emissions per year by 2030 through the use of solar pumps.
Solar panels produce energy even when no irrigation is needed. This energy is used to power cold storage units, small businesses, mills, run rice huskers, water purifiers, all contributing to rural development and incomes in rural off-grid areas.
This upward trend shows an opening of a potentially huge market and to help with the growth; East Africa welcomes the best global Solar industrialists to Solar Africa 2018 - 2019, a show that exhibits the best available solar technology products and solutions. Expogroup Organizes the Solar Africa exhibitions in 4 countries in East Africa namely Kenya, Tanzania, Rwanda and Ethiopia with each event attracting exhibitors from over 22 countries including Egypt, China, Yemen, Italy, India and United Arab Emirates.
For more information- solarexpo.expogr.com
