Irrigation can become a real challenge in groundwater-scarce areas with low rainfall and limited electricity supply. Wells require pumps or diesel generators connected to the power grid, which are not affordable for many farmers in emerging economies. In 2013, her MIT undergraduate, Katie Taylor, became interested in the irrigation challenges facing Indian farmers. Her first project was meant to help them with a low-pressure drip irrigation system, but she quickly changed her approach once she started talking to local farmers. Agreed that the thing is to get groundwater.Taylor shared her findings with a few classmates and decided to develop innovative technology recently hit the market – a Solar power groundwater pump.
The team began working on early prototypes in 2014. At the time, they were still attending classes and had to find free time on weekends. Finally, in 2016 they decided to move to India and work with local farmers. They also decided to manufacture the equipment in India. The final hassle-free device consists of two solar panels, a centrifugal solar pump and a controller. According to Taylor, centrifugation technology is key to the efficiency and low cost of the system. The device can pump twice as much water as other similarly priced solutions available in India.
Another important factor is the light weight of the overall setup. The pump weighs less than 5kg and the solar panel can be carried on your back. Portability has been one of the priorities from the beginning, as many Indian farmers sleep with all their belongings to avoid theft. Taylor and her team plan to sell 100 of her pumps to farmers in Jharkhand and West Bengal in the first quarter of 2020. Some farmers jointly purchase pumps to split costs.
Integrated photovoltaic irrigation system
Similarly, the Technical University of Madrid’s Institute of Photovoltaics has led a large-scale European project to develop a solar-powered irrigation system.their innovative technologyhas just hit the market, consuming 30% less water and cutting electricity costs by 60-80%. Successful tests were carried out in southern countries such as Spain, Portugal, Italy and Morocco. Unlike technology developed by Taylor’s startup, this is a high-power irrigation system, offering a hybrid power solution and adding a fuel generator to the mix. According to the researchers behind this technology project, using this type of irrigation system could save up to 20 billion cubic meters of water each year. In addition, he reduces carbon emissions by 16 million tons.
sauce: nothing, neither
