Toolbox on SPIS

Introduction

The Toolbox on Solar Powered Irrigation Systems (SPIS) is designed to enable advisors, service providers and practitioners in the field of solar irrigation to provide broad hands-on guidance to end-users, policy-makers and financiers. Risks related to system efficiency, financial viability and the unsustainable use of water resources can thus be minimized. The Toolbox comprises informative modules supplemented with user-friendly software tools (calculations sheets, checklists, guidelines). read more

Modules and tools touch upon:

• assessing the water requirements,
• comparing the financial viability,
• determining farm profitability and payback of investment in SPIS,
• sustainably design and maintain a SPIS,
• highlight critical workmanship quality aspects,
• and many more.

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ABBREVIATIONS

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Toolbox on Solar Powered Irrigation Systems (SPIS)

The Toolbox on Solar Powered Irrigation Systems (SPIS) is designed to enable advisors and practitioners in the field of solar irrigation to provide broad hands-on guidance to end-users, policy-makers and financiers. It comprises 8 modules supplemented with tools and covers critical aspects such as

• assessing the water requirements,
• comparing the financial viability,
• determining farm profitability,

It furthermore gives insight into how SPIS are designed, set up and maintained. It strives to find the optimal design of a system, thereby avoiding risks related to system efficiency, financial viability and the unsustainable use of water resources. read more

Background

Most water pumps utilized for irrigation purposes worldwide are powered by engines run on fossil fuels (diesel, petrol, gas) or on electricity supplied from the grid. Fossil energy sources are limited and emissions from their utilization have negative climate impacts. At the same time, the electricity supply in many developing countries is often insufficient and unreliable or wholly absent in rural areas. Moreover, prices of solar panels have reduced while the quality has improved. Today, solar pumps for irrigation have become an economical, technical and environmentally viable.

Objective

Major hindrance for the uptake of the technology is still a lack of information on solar pumps for irrigation and its relatively high investment costs. The knowledge on the potentials, limitations and risks of Solar Powered Irrigation Systems (SPIS) is incomplete among extension officers, suppliers, policy makers, and other stakeholders. As a result, farmers as a major end-user group struggle to get sound information in order to take informed decision and maintain a SPIS well. Often SPIS are designed in a way that farmers needs and site specific conditions (environmental, agronomic and technical aspects) are not comprehensively addressed. Consequently, the potential of the technology is not optimized, or worse, has negative ecological and economic impacts. The Toolbox addresses this issue by providing a holistic set of knowledge through which SPIS advisors can guide their clients towards a financially and environmentally sound decision.

Target Group

The Toolbox serves all stakeholders who advise on SPIS end-users, finance investment in SPIS or draft policies for SPIS:

• agricultural (irrigation) extension officers
• technology suppliers
• credit officers / risk managers in financing institutions
• policy advisors

Contents of the Toolbox

Click on bubble to get more information about the module and supplemented tools aligned.

The GET INFORMED module provides essential information for agricultural advisors and financial service providers to understand the operating principle of Solar Powered Irrigation System (SPIS) and to differentiate between the individual system components. [+] There are no tools under this module.

The PROMOTE & INITIATE module provides important information for promoting the Solar Powered Irrigation System (SPIS) technology in a particular area. It focuses on the analysis of opportunities and risks, the stakeholders involved, as well as promotion strategies and activities. [+] There is one tool under this module:

• PROMOTE & INITIATE – SPIS Rapid Assessment Tool

The SAFEGUARD WATER module aims to give an introduction to ground water management and the principles of sustainable water management. It focuses on mainly on water governance issues and the potential negative impacts of (ground-)water depletion through solar pumping. [+] There are two tools under this module:

• SAFEGUARD WATER – Water Requirement Tool
• SAFEGUARD WATER – Water Resource Management Checklist

The SET UP module provides necessary information and tools to enable the installation of a SPIS. It focuses on the selection of installers, acceptance and system tests as well as documentation and hand over of the system. [+] There are two tools under this module:

• SET UP – PVP Acceptance Test
• SET UP – Workmanship Quality Checklist

The INVEST module provides guidance to financial service providers who are financing or planning to finance SPIS. The module targets stakeholders at management level who decide on credit policies and loan officers who assess single loan applications for financing SPIS. [+] There are two tools under this module:

• INVEST – Farm Analysis Tool
• INVEST – Payback Tool

The IRRIGATE module is work in progress.

The DESIGN module helps to select the suitable system configuration for a specific situation. A substantial set of tools helps to assess site conditions, select and design the appropriate type of SPIS and conduct a simplified financial viability assessment and calculates the detailed financial viability of the producer. [+] There are five tools under this module:

• DESIGN – Site Data Collection Tool
• DESIGN – Pump Sizing Tool

The MAINTAIN module elaborates on maintenance plans, the selection of service providers, regular routines and documentation and monitoring. [+] There are two tools under this module:

• MAINTAIN – Maintenance Checklist
• MAINTAIN – Water Application Uniformity Guide

• Financial Glossary
• Technical Glossary
• Abbreviations

Imprint

The Toolbox on Solar Powered Irrigation Systems is made possible through the global initiative Powering Agriculture: An Energy Grand Challenge for Development (PAEGC). In 2012, the United States Agency for International Development (USAID), the Swedish International Development Cooperation Agency (Sida), the German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ), Duke Energy, and the Overseas Private Investment Cooperation (OPIC) combined resources to create the PAEGC initiative. The objective of PAEGC is to support new and sustainable approaches to accelerate the development and deployment of clean energy solutions for increasing agriculture productivity and/or value for farmers and agribusinesses in developing countries and emerging regions that lack access to reliable, affordable clean energy.

read more

Published by
Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) GmbH on behalf of BMZ as a funding partner of the global initiative Powering Agriculture: An Energy Grand Challenge for Development (PAEGC) and
The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO)

Responsible
GIZ Project Sustainable Energy for Food – Powering Agriculture

Contact
Powering.Agriculture@giz.de

Download
'https://energypedia.info/wiki/Toolbox_on_SPIS'

About
Powering Agriculture: An Energy Grand Challenge for Development: https://poweringag.org

Version
0.2 (October 2017)

Disclaimer
The designations employed and the presentation of material in this information product do not imply the expression of any opinion whatsoever on the part of the Food and Agriculture Organizations of the United Nations (FAO), Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) GmbH or any of the PAEGC Founding Partners concerning the legal or development status of any country, territory, city or area or of its authorities, or concerning the delimitation of its frontiers or boundaries. The mention of specific companies or products of manufacturers, whether or not these have been patented, does not imply that these have been endorsed or recommended by GIZ, FAO, or any of the PAEGC Founding Partners in preference to others of a similar nature that are not mentioned. The views expressed in this information product are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views or policies of GIZ, FAO, or any of the PAEGC Founding Partners.

GIZ, FAO and the PAEGC Founding Partners encourage the use, reproduction and dissemination of material in this information product. Except where otherwise indicated, material may be copied, downloaded and printed for private study, research and teaching purposes, or for use in non-commercial products or services, provided that appropriate acknowledgement of GIZ and FAO as the source and copyright holder is given.

© GIZ and FAO, 2017