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.
The 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 14 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
Elements of the Toolbox
The Toolbox consists of informative modules supplemented with hands-on tools such calculations sheets, checklists, data collection guidelines. It follows the course of action involved when giving advice on SPIS for an agricultural enterprise. The modular approach enables the user to pick out specific information relevant to his/her situation. Modules and tools however relate to and supplement each other. The tools are available online and users can adapt them to their specific needs.
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
The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) and
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)
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 FAO, GIZ, 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 FAO, GIZ, or any of the PAEGC Founding Partners.
FAO, GIZ 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 FAO and GIZ as the source and copyright holder is given.
© GIZ and FAO, 2017
