Pumping water for irrigation

This study set itself the following objectives: (1) to size and design an efficient solar PV irrigation system on the basis of a sound sizing method, and then (2) to compare its technico-economic performance with that of a petrol-driven thermal pump. The sizing was carried out using an analytical method that takes into account the characteristics of the site and the configuration of the pumping system to be installed. The choice of the said configuration was guided by the existence of an interesting solar potential and significant irrigation water requirements on the study site, namely: an average annual irradiation of 5.41 kWh/m²/day and a water requirement of 6.5 m3/day. The results obtained showed that the minimum size of the PV generator is of the order of 307 Wp, and that the overall investment cost amounts to 2,887,500 FCFA for an operating period of 18 years. Compared with the gasoline-powered pumping system, the profitability study showed a payback time of 5 years 3 months 25 days. In other words, free pumping for 12 years with a net profit of 6,890,100 FCFA. Such a pumping system is therefore profitable.