Water Pumping for Agriculture, The Solar Way

[saravanakumargcses]

@peskay

Hi members
I just like to share my experience on Solar and power scenario in kanchipuram Dist tamilnadu.
having passion for agriculture I started developing a farm 65 km from chennai.
After inquiring with TNEB I was told getting agriculture power connection is not possible for the next 3 years.
Then I started inquiring about Solar power for pumping - the prices they are quoting are about Rs 1.1 lakh to 1.5 lakh per kW. I am not able to understand the reason ,when we plan for Mw scale plant it is working for 60 to 70 thousand per kW and in small scale it is 50 to 70% more . Then I have started assembling a 2kW on my own and it worked out Rs 1.1lakhs / kW (FEB 2014) I have used the best brand material.
I have used a submersible pump of 2hp at a depth of 200 feet. My water availability is only 4000 ltr /hr as per consultant report , I have no choice to go other than 2 hp.
My solar system starts around 7 30 am with 40% efficiency and reaches peak by 10 am and goes up to 3.30 pm in the peak pumping and works up to 5.30 pm with lower capacities. On average I get around 22000 to 25000 ltrs per day to my sump. Clouds have 5 to 10% role on the solar power out put.
I am pumping the water from sump to my drip system through a 5 hp Diesel pump.
My experience says

1. getting new power connection for agriculture is virtually impossible
2. Solar subsidy etc are all big misleading statements
3. Solar is a good alternative will be beneficial to farmers if they can get Rs 60000/kW (at par with mega project prices)-
4. Solar powered pump is not sufficient for direct pumping in to drip system

I hope government will do some thing about the real available cost of solar pumps to farmers . Some new bold attempts to be made in this sector like wht they have done in micro irrigation systems .

Hi,

Congrats on your first post and I must admit you have started a rave!!

And congrats again on your successful project, glad to know a DIY project running great.

Just like others, even I would love to see your setup, a youtube link? or may be pic’s here…

And oh yeah, i dont want to miss asking you this,

You have mentioned that you completed @ Rs.1.1L/Kw i.e 2.2 for the 2hp setup. Request you to elaborate what is all included in that? does it cover the cost of 2hp submersible motor & pump, 200ft piping, submersible cable or for that case precisely what 1.1l/kw includes, was it just solar panels?

Thanks for sharing your inputs,

Regards,

Saravana

PS: We do have solar systems directly pumping to drip lines, especially few of our esteemed customers who also happen to be farmnest members using our systems would vouch it.