24 Forgetting politics, the global ag sector is under pressure to produce more food while at the same time reducing negative impacts on the environment. A recent promising solution is the use of SolarPowered Irrigation Systems (SPIS), which involves using solar energy to power irrigation pumps. Combining the SPIS with precision ag technologies has revolutionized farming practices by offering a sustainable path forward for the industry. The Problem of Tradition Irrigation is essential for global food production, with over 320 million hectares of land currently equipped for irrigation—more than 20 percent of all arable land available. According to an online article on Reporter Linker (www.reportlinker.com/ dataset/79ee415b4f74018506e91d2ce9c8c32adc521f23), as of 2023, the land area equipped for irrigation in North America, which includes both Canada and the US, is approximately 28.14 million hectares—and has grown over the past decade from continuing efforts to enhance agricultural productivity and water management. Despite the results, traditional irrigation methods are energy-intensive, consuming an estimated 62 TWh annually worldwide. TWh = terawatts, whereby one watt-hour (Wh) is the amount of energy used by a device that consumes one watt of power for one hour, which means that one terawatt-hour (TWh) is 1,000,000,000,000 watt-hours, a substantial amount of energy. Many of these traditional irrigation systems rely on fossil fuels, with 26 percent of agricultural pumps in the US alone running on diesel or other non-renewable energy sources. This drives up operational costs and contributes significantly to greenhouse gas emissions. The Promise of Solar-Powered Irrigation As noted, SPIS uses solar energy to power irrigation pumps, which helps reduce greenhouse gas emissions by up to 98 percent compared to dieselbased alternatives, according to a white paper on the subject from the Global Ag Tech Initiative (www.globalagtechinitiative.com/in-field-technologies/ irrigation/solar-powered-irrigation-and-smart-controltechnologies-in-agriculture/). A reduction from this shift would certainly better support global decarbonization efforts and provide farmers with a more reliable and cost-effective solution, particularly in remote areas where grid connectivity is limited. In a typical SPIS, electricity is generated by solar photovoltaic (PV) panels and used to operate pumps for the abstraction, lifting, and distribution of irrigation water. The essential components include: • Solar generator: PV panels or arrays to produce electricity; • Mounting structure: Fixed or equipped with a solar tracking system to maximize solar energy yield; • Pump controller: Manages the operation of the pump; • Water Pump: Surface or submersible, integrated with an electric motor; • Distribution System: Pipes and storage tanks for irrigation water. The Use of Solar-Powered Irrigation and Precision Ag Technologies Helps Farmers Produce More Without Negatively Impacting the Environment THE FUTURE’S SO BRIGHT ANDREW JOSEPH FARMS.COM PHOTO: DOERS – stock.adobe.com
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