Bangladeshi farmers try solar irrigation when fuel prices rise

Farmers can save money on water by using solar pumps

Solar energy could be affected by high fuel prices

Solar growth is slowed by high upfront costs

Tahmid Zami Tahmid Zami

Experts say that installing solar panels in or near?crop fields can provide a "better" alternative to the rising costs of fuel for generators.

The technology is still not widely used. According to the Bangladesh Agricultural Development Corporation, 71% of irrigation equipment is powered by diesel and 29% by electric. Only 4,058 solar-powered irrigation units are found nationwide.

The U.S./Israeli war against Iran, and the sharp increase in energy prices that has resulted from it, could cause this to change. Bangladesh has begun rationing diesel to ensure that it can provide enough for farmers and industrial owners.

The latest climate plan of the country, submitted under the Paris Agreement, is aimed at installing 45,000 solar irrigation pump by 2035. The progress is slow due to high upfront costs, licensing obstacles and uncertainty about how operators will sell their excess power to the grid in order to increase returns.

Mohammad Anisur Rahman is a 50-year old farmer from Jhenaidah District in the southwest of Bangladesh. The switch to solar irrigation has reduced his costs and dependency on diesel.

He said solar irrigation was cheaper. According to estimates from farmers and pump operators, solar irrigation can cost $87 to $99 per acre in southwestern Bangladesh. This compares to diesel pumps that cost $125 to $150.

Researchers and developers say that one way to improve business cases is to connect solar irrigation pumps directly to the grid, so that operators can sell any unused electricity during the main irrigation seasons.

Wave Foundation, a non-profit working in solar irrigation for the west of the country, has already connected three solar pump to the grid and plans to install 39 more.

Even though operators can export excess electricity to the grid they are still restricted or uncertain about using it for irrigation if solar power is not enough.

Ketab Ali is a risk management specialist at the Wave Foundation. He said that the inability to obtain power from the grid makes solar irrigation less economically viable.

Shafiqul alam, the lead analyst for Bangladesh at?the Institute for Energy Economics and Financial Analysis said that a wider grid connection for solar water irrigation could also reduce fossil fuel production in Bangladesh during periods when irrigation demands are low.

He said that because oil-based energy is expensive, excess daytime solar power could provide benefits to the nation in addition to farm income.

Water Risks

Some water experts and researchers warn, however, that solar irrigation can increase the pressure on groundwater in areas already experiencing declining water tables.

Groundwater depletion is a major concern in northwest Bangladesh, due to intensive cultivation during the dry season and heavy reliance on groundwater irrigation.

Mohammad Faiz Alam is a senior researcher in the International Water Management Institute. He said that research shows solar users do not necessarily use more water than diesel users.

He explained that many irrigation systems are'supervised by local or NGOs, with the farmers paying a fee for the irrigation. This creates a certain amount of discipline as to how and what water is charged.

(source: Reuters)