Micro-Solar Utilities for Small-Scale Irrigation

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Overview

Innovator

The Earth Institute at Columbia University


Earth Institute Logo Columbia University.png

Project

Micro-Solar Utilities for Small-Scale Irrigation

Collaborators

The MDG Center West and Central Africa (Senegal)

Location Applied

Senegal

In Senegal, farmers currently use two practices for watering crops: the labor intensive method of flood irrigation with wells and buckets, or the cost- and energy-intensive method of using diesel-powered motor pumps. Neither of these options is ideal in a country with immense solar resources that can be harnessed and used to transform irrigation practices in the country and region.[1]


Clean Energy Solution

Earth Institute’s solution will enable a small group of farmers to use a central solar energy unit to power multiple AC pumps for irrigation. The proposed solution takes advantage of the benefits of solar without the high costs associated with DC-powered pumps and battery storage. This power will be accessed by farmers with prepaid electricity cards issued by a micro-utility, and sold through local vendors who will benefit from a small commission. Recognizing that a major obstacle to technology adoption is financing, a tariff-based financing model will allow customers to cover their appliance loans in small payments added into their micro-utility bills.


The first solar pump controller has been now shipped by the Earth Institute to Senegal: read more in the Powering Agriculture April 2016 Newsletter.

 



Impact

© The Earth Institute

This innovation will reduce the price of energy for irrigation significantly while reducing the carbon intensity of irrigation and the labor expended on it. These benefits are particularly powerful when looking at the demographics of Senegal’s agricultural workforce, which is more than 85% women.[1]




Organization

The Earth Institute at Columbia University harnesses scientific research, education, and practical solutions to create a more sustainable world through innovation and critical thinking. Earth Institute has partnered with The MDG Center West and Central Africa (WCA) - an organization established to assist WCA countries develop and implement operational strategies aimed at achieving the Millennium Development Goals.[1]


Progress Update

By the end of the Powering Agriculture Award in March 2016, Earth Institute had installed three shared battery-less solar PV pumping systems in Potou, Senegal. The three shared systems serve 21 farms, including a farm run by a women’s cooperative, and are now seeing maximum utilization. Farmers have experienced a 29% average increase in agricultural production, and resulted in 24 tons of CO2 equivalent emissions avoided from not having to use diesel pumps. Eight persons have been trained on how to service the pumping systems. The project is now seeking partnerships for scaling up, adoption and local maintenance contracts.[1]


Further Information


References

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 Powering Agriculture: http://poweringag.org/innovators/micro-solar-utilities-small-scale-irrigation
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