1. Why Solar
Energy
Energy input is the key
parameter for holistic development of agriculture sector. Among all the energy
inputs, nature of input energy for operating irrigation system changes from
time to time. In ancient time animate energy was major contributor for the
irrigation development. During the last 35-40 years, mechanical and electrical energy
have become essential prime mover for operating irrigation system. 1975-2000
was the golden period of small land holder irrigation in South Asia. Since
1975, the spontaneous boom in private investment in small boreholes and
mechanized diesel and electrical pumps and mushrooming irrigation service
market have revolutionized irrigation agriculture. Catalytic measures like Government
policies supported the pump irrigation, revolution through expansion of institutional
credit under minor irrigation, various subsidy schemes on pumps and boring,
support to farm electric and electricity subsidy have played major role. Resulting,
tremendous changes in utilization pattern of water resources. Ground water
exploitation for irrigation was become easy and major source of irrigation. It
has adverse impact on water resources, electrical industry and also on the
irrigation input cost.
Since 2000, regions ground water economy has began shrinking in response to growing energy squeeze. The energy squeeze is combined outcome of thee factors namely 1) progressive reduction in quantity and quality of power utilities to agriculture sector as a desperate means to contains farm power subsidies, 2) growing difficulty and rising capital cost acquiring new electrical connection for tubewell, 3) many fold increase in nominal prices of diesel. Hence, real challenge for Indian Agriculture faces today is helping small holder irrigation out of energy squeeze.
2. What is
Solar Pumping System
A solar photovoltaic (SPV) water
pumping system consists of:
1. Photovoltaic (PV) array : Capacity in the range of 200 Watt to 5 KWp and can be mounted on a suitable structure with a provision of tracking the sun
2. Motor Pump Set (Surface or submersible) : D.C. Motor Pump Set (with Brushes or Brush less D.C.) OR A.C. Induction Motor Pump Set with a suitable Inverter
3. Electronics : Maximum Power Point Tracker (MPPT)- Controls / Protections.
4. Interconnect Cables and “On-Off” switch.
3. Salient Features of Solar Pumping System
1. High initial cost of investment (unit cost varies from Rs.1.35 lakh per HP to Rs.1.7 lakh per HP)
2.
Negligible
operational cost
3.
Longer
operational life 25-30 years
4.
Two
point hitch system designed by the local farmer is available, which unable to
carry whole panel to field level without folding
5.
Highly
Suitable for cash crops and vegetables
4. Available Government’s Support
I) Government of Uttar Pradesh providing subsidy up to Rs.2 Lakh for 2 HP solar pumping system and farmers’ contribution is Rs.70,000/- Only under RKVY.
II) Government of India providing assistance @40% approved unit cost for different models through credit linked subsidy scheme implemented by NABARD.
5. Economic Returns
of State Sponsored Scheme of 2 HP Solar Pumping System
Economics of the
solar pumping system is depends on various factors such cropping patterns,
nature of the existing irrigation system (own / custom and hiring basis),
supplementary irrigation system, assistance available under different schemes,
fuel prices, depth of ground water, etc. so that techno-economic feasibility of the
same solar system would be different in different operating conditions.
Economic feasibility of the same, therefore, is determined on the basis of
below listed assumptions, which are closely prevailing in eastern UP.
1) Cropping Pattern : 50% area under sugarcane and 50 % area under Wheat and Paddy
2) Benefits of the solar pumping is taken saving of diesel fuel in respect of farmers’ having their own diesel engine OR
3) Benefit of the solar pumping is taken saving of custom charges for those farmer, who do not have their own prime motor / Irrigation system.
4) Average discharge of shallow tube wells is taken 12 liters per second
5) Average time of irrigation to cover one ha of land is 16 hour No of hours actually operated by the famers to irrigate crops is considered.
6. Irrigation
requirement as per scientific package of practice for the major crops
CROPS
|
Irrigation
Requirements (cm)
|
Effective
Rainfall (25%) cm
|
NIR
(cm)
|
Per
Ha Water Required (cum)
|
||
Min
|
Max
|
Average
|
||||
1
|
2
|
3
|
4
|
5
|
6
|
7
|
Paddy
|
90
|
250
|
170
|
23
|
67
|
6700
|
Wheat
|
45
|
65
|
55
|
11
|
34
|
3400
|
Maize
|
50
|
80
|
65
|
13
|
37
|
3700
|
Sugarcane
|
150
|
250
|
200
|
38
|
112
|
11200
|
Banana
|
120
|
220
|
170
|
30
|
90
|
9000
|
Tomato
|
60
|
80
|
70
|
15
|
45
|
4500
|
Potato
|
50
|
70
|
60
|
13
|
37
|
3700
|
Cabbage
|
38
|
50
|
44
|
10
|
28
|
2800
|
Chilly
|
50
|
50
|
50
|
13
|
37
|
3700
|
(MIN : Minimum, MAX : Maximum,
Ha; NIR : Net Irrigation Requirement)
7. No of hours
required for irrigation as per the crop requirement and actual numbers of hours
actually operated by the farmers
CROPS
|
Discharge
of a 8-10 HP pump (cum/hr)
|
NO
of hr Required to operate pump to
irrigate per Ha
|
NO
of hr Required to operate pump to
irrigate per acre
|
Actual
NO of Irrigation undertaken by farmers
|
Actual
NO of hr operation of pump to
irrigate per acre
|
|
1
|
8
|
9
|
10
|
11
|
12
|
|
Paddy
|
43.2
|
155
|
63
|
6
|
36
|
|
Wheat
|
43.2
|
79
|
32
|
3
|
18
|
|
Maize
|
43.2
|
86
|
35
|
0
|
||
Sugarcane
|
43.2
|
259
|
105
|
5
|
30
|
|
Banana
|
43.2
|
208
|
84
|
10
|
60
|
|
Tomato
|
43.2
|
104
|
42
|
|||
Potato
|
43.2
|
86
|
35
|
|||
Cabbage
|
43.2
|
65
|
26
|
|||
Chilly
|
43.2
|
86
|
35
|
( NO : Number, CUM : cubic meter,
Ha : Hectare)
8. Model Cropping Patterns
(
Amount in Rs.)
Model Area (ha)
|
Area (ha)
|
No of IR
|
Cost of Fuel
|
Cost hiring
|
Wheat
|
1
|
3
|
2928
|
7680
|
Paddy
|
1
|
6
|
5856
|
15360
|
Sugarcane
|
1
|
5
|
4880
|
12800
|
TOTAL
|
2
|
13664
|
35840
|
(IR : Irrigation, HR : Hour)
9. Cost of the Solar pumping system of 2 H.P.
COST OF SOLAR PUMPING SYSTEM
|
270000
|
Subsidy under Agriculture
Department
|
200000
|
Subsidy under NABARD
|
108000
|
10. Economic Viability under different conditions
A)Famers having their own diesel engine system
A)Famers having their own diesel engine system
Conditions
|
BC
Ratio
|
IRR
(%)
|
BEP
(years)
|
Remark
|
Economic Returns ( Without any subsidy)
|
0.34
|
3
|
20
|
Condition A1
|
Economic Returns ( With Subsidy of Agriculture Department
- RKVY)
|
1.31
|
24
|
5
|
Condition A2
|
Economic Returns ( With subsidy of GOVT OF INDIA Via
NABARD)
|
0.56
|
8
|
12
|
Condition A3
|
B) Famers having no
irrigation facility at their own and using on custom and hiring basis
Conditions
|
BC
Ratio
|
IRR
(%)
|
BEP
(years)
|
Remark
|
Economic Returns ( Without any subsidy)
|
0.89
|
15
|
8
|
Condition B1
|
Economic Returns ( With Subsidy of Agriculture Department - RKVY)
|
3.43
|
>50%
|
2
|
Condition B2
|
Economic Returns ( With subsidy of GOVT OF INDIA Via
NABARD)
|
1.28
|
28
|
5
|
Condition B3
|
Recommendation
1
|
Solar
Pumping System with assistance of 40% of the bench mark cost under JLNSLM is
found economically viable for the famers who are using on irrigation system
on custom and hiring basis.
|
2
|
Solar
Pumping System with assistance of Rs.2.0 lakh under RKVY is found economically
viable for both the famers who have their own diesel system as well as on
using on custom and hiring basis.
|
3
|
Solar
Pumping System without any subsidy is not economically viable.
|
4
|
Solar
Pumping System with assistance of 40% of the bench mark cost under JLNSLM is
found economically not viable for the famers who have their own diesel
system.
|
5
|
Horticulture
Plantation, Vegetables and Sugarcane crops are found most suitable for solar pumping
System
|
6
|
For
Specific condition/s the techno-economic feasibility of the Solar pumping system
can be determined based on this model.
|
7
|
During
the lean period the solar panel system can be used for other farm and non farm
operations that would be additional benefits.
|
A)
Famers having their own diesel engine system
Condition A1: Economic
Returns ( Without any subsidy)
YEAR
|
EXPEN
|
INCOME
|
NET
INCOME
|
1
|
270000
|
13664
|
-256336
|
2
|
13664
|
13664
|
|
3
|
13664
|
13664
|
|
4
|
13664
|
13664
|
|
5
|
13664
|
13664
|
|
6
|
13664
|
13664
|
|
7
|
13664
|
13664
|
|
8
|
13664
|
13664
|
|
9
|
13664
|
13664
|
|
10
|
13664
|
13664
|
|
11
|
13664
|
13664
|
|
12
|
13664
|
13664
|
|
13
|
13664
|
13664
|
|
14
|
13664
|
13664
|
|
15
|
13664
|
13664
|
|
16
|
13664
|
13664
|
|
17
|
13664
|
13664
|
|
18
|
13664
|
13664
|
|
19
|
13664
|
13664
|
|
20
|
13664
|
13664
|
|
21
|
13664
|
13664
|
|
22
|
13664
|
13664
|
|
23
|
13664
|
13664
|
|
24
|
13664
|
13664
|
|
25
|
13664
|
13664
|
|
26
|
13664
|
13664
|
|
27
|
13664
|
13664
|
|
28
|
13664
|
13664
|
|
29
|
13664
|
13664
|
|
30
|
13664
|
13664
|
|
270000
|
409920
|
||
PW of Cost at 15% DC
|
270000
|
||
PW of Benefit at 15% DC
|
91500
|
||
BC Ratio
|
0.34
|
||
IRR
|
3%
|
||
Break Even Duration (Years)
|
20
|
Condition A2: Economic
Returns ( With Subsidy of Agriculture Deptt. - RKVY)
YEAR
|
EXPEN
|
INCOME
|
NET
INCOME
|
1
|
70000
|
13664
|
-56336
|
2
|
13664
|
13664
|
|
3
|
13664
|
13664
|
|
4
|
13664
|
13664
|
|
5
|
13664
|
13664
|
|
6
|
13664
|
13664
|
|
7
|
13664
|
13664
|
|
8
|
13664
|
13664
|
|
9
|
13664
|
13664
|
|
10
|
13664
|
13664
|
|
11
|
13664
|
13664
|
|
12
|
13664
|
13664
|
|
13
|
13664
|
13664
|
|
14
|
13664
|
13664
|
|
15
|
13664
|
13664
|
|
16
|
13664
|
13664
|
|
17
|
13664
|
13664
|
|
18
|
13664
|
13664
|
|
19
|
13664
|
13664
|
|
20
|
13664
|
13664
|
|
21
|
13664
|
13664
|
|
22
|
13664
|
13664
|
|
23
|
13664
|
13664
|
|
24
|
13664
|
13664
|
|
25
|
13664
|
13664
|
|
26
|
13664
|
13664
|
|
27
|
13664
|
13664
|
|
28
|
13664
|
13664
|
|
29
|
13664
|
13664
|
|
30
|
13664
|
13664
|
|
70000
|
409920
|
||
PW of Cost at
15% DC
|
70000
|
||
PW of Benefit
at 15% DC
|
91500
|
||
BC Ratio
|
1.31
|
||
IRR
|
24%
|
||
Break Even
Duration (Years)
|
5
|
Condition A3
: Economic Returns ( With subsidy of GOVT OF INDIA Via NABARD)
YEAR
|
EXPEN
|
INCOME
|
NET
INCOME
|
1
|
162000
|
13664
|
-148336
|
2
|
13664
|
13664
|
|
3
|
13664
|
13664
|
|
4
|
13664
|
13664
|
|
5
|
13664
|
13664
|
|
6
|
13664
|
13664
|
|
7
|
13664
|
13664
|
|
8
|
13664
|
13664
|
|
9
|
13664
|
13664
|
|
10
|
13664
|
13664
|
|
11
|
13664
|
13664
|
|
12
|
13664
|
13664
|
|
13
|
13664
|
13664
|
|
14
|
13664
|
13664
|
|
15
|
13664
|
13664
|
|
16
|
13664
|
13664
|
|
17
|
13664
|
13664
|
|
18
|
13664
|
13664
|
|
19
|
13664
|
13664
|
|
20
|
13664
|
13664
|
|
21
|
13664
|
13664
|
|
22
|
13664
|
13664
|
|
23
|
13664
|
13664
|
|
24
|
13664
|
13664
|
|
25
|
13664
|
13664
|
|
26
|
13664
|
13664
|
|
27
|
13664
|
13664
|
|
28
|
13664
|
13664
|
|
29
|
13664
|
13664
|
|
30
|
13664
|
13664
|
|
162000
|
409920
|
||
PW of Cost at 15% DC
|
162000
|
||
PW of Benefit at 15% DC
|
91500
|
||
BC Ratio
|
0.56
|
||
IRR
|
8%
|
||
Break Even Duration (Years)
|
12
|
B)Famers having no
irrigation facility at their own and using on custom and hiring basis
Condition B1: Economic
Returns ( Without any subsidy)
YEAR
|
EXPEN
|
INCOME
|
NET
INCOME
|
1
|
270000
|
35840
|
-234160
|
2
|
35840
|
35840
|
|
3
|
35840
|
35840
|
|
4
|
35840
|
35840
|
|
5
|
35840
|
35840
|
|
6
|
35840
|
35840
|
|
7
|
35840
|
35840
|
|
8
|
35840
|
35840
|
|
9
|
35840
|
35840
|
|
10
|
35840
|
35840
|
|
11
|
35840
|
35840
|
|
12
|
35840
|
35840
|
|
13
|
35840
|
35840
|
|
14
|
35840
|
35840
|
|
15
|
35840
|
35840
|
|
16
|
35840
|
35840
|
|
17
|
35840
|
35840
|
|
18
|
35840
|
35840
|
|
19
|
35840
|
35840
|
|
20
|
35840
|
35840
|
|
21
|
35840
|
35840
|
|
22
|
35840
|
35840
|
|
23
|
35840
|
35840
|
|
24
|
35840
|
35840
|
|
25
|
35840
|
35840
|
|
26
|
35840
|
35840
|
|
27
|
35840
|
35840
|
|
28
|
35840
|
35840
|
|
29
|
35840
|
35840
|
|
30
|
35840
|
35840
|
|
270000
|
1075200
|
||
PW of Cost at 15% DC
|
270000
|
||
PW of Benefit at 15% DC
|
239999
|
||
BC Ratio
|
0.89
|
||
IRR
|
15%
|
||
Break Even Duration (Years)
|
8
|
Condition B2: Economic
Returns ( With Subsidy of Agriculture Deptt. - RKVY)
YEAR
|
EXPEN
|
INCOME
|
NET
INCOME
|
1
|
70000
|
35840
|
-34160
|
2
|
35840
|
35840
|
|
3
|
35840
|
35840
|
|
4
|
35840
|
35840
|
|
5
|
35840
|
35840
|
|
6
|
35840
|
35840
|
|
7
|
35840
|
35840
|
|
8
|
35840
|
35840
|
|
9
|
35840
|
35840
|
|
10
|
35840
|
35840
|
|
11
|
35840
|
35840
|
|
12
|
35840
|
35840
|
|
13
|
35840
|
35840
|
|
14
|
35840
|
35840
|
|
15
|
35840
|
35840
|
|
16
|
35840
|
35840
|
|
17
|
35840
|
35840
|
|
18
|
35840
|
35840
|
|
19
|
35840
|
35840
|
|
20
|
35840
|
35840
|
|
21
|
35840
|
35840
|
|
22
|
35840
|
35840
|
|
23
|
35840
|
35840
|
|
24
|
35840
|
35840
|
|
25
|
35840
|
35840
|
|
26
|
35840
|
35840
|
|
27
|
35840
|
35840
|
|
28
|
35840
|
35840
|
|
29
|
35840
|
35840
|
|
30
|
35840
|
35840
|
|
70000
|
1075200
|
||
PW of Cost at 15% DC
|
70000
|
||
PW of Benefit at 15% DC
|
239999
|
||
BC Ratio
|
3.43
|
||
IRR
|
105%
|
||
Break Even Duration (Years)
|
2
|
Condition B3
: Economic Returns ( With subsidy of GOVT OF INDIA Via NABARD)
YEAR
|
EXPEN
|
INCOME
|
NET INCOME
|
1
|
162000
|
35840
|
-126160
|
2
|
35840
|
35840
|
|
3
|
35840
|
35840
|
|
4
|
35840
|
35840
|
|
5
|
35840
|
35840
|
|
6
|
35840
|
35840
|
|
7
|
35840
|
35840
|
|
8
|
35840
|
35840
|
|
9
|
35840
|
35840
|
|
10
|
35840
|
35840
|
|
11
|
35840
|
35840
|
|
12
|
35840
|
35840
|
|
13
|
35840
|
35840
|
|
14
|
35840
|
35840
|
|
15
|
35840
|
35840
|
|
16
|
35840
|
35840
|
|
17
|
35840
|
35840
|
|
18
|
35840
|
35840
|
|
19
|
35840
|
35840
|
|
20
|
35840
|
35840
|
|
21
|
35840
|
35840
|
|
22
|
35840
|
35840
|
|
23
|
35840
|
35840
|
|
24
|
35840
|
35840
|
|
25
|
35840
|
35840
|
|
26
|
35840
|
35840
|
|
27
|
35840
|
35840
|
|
28
|
35840
|
35840
|
|
29
|
35840
|
35840
|
|
30
|
35840
|
35840
|
|
162000
|
1075200
|
||
PW of Cost at 15% DC
|
162000
|
||
PW of Benefit at 15% DC
|
239999
|
||
BC Ratio
|
1.48
|
||
IRR
|
28%
|
||
Break Even Duration (Years)
|
5
|