Solar irrigation in India: a situation analysis report

Abstract

About SoLARSolar Irrigation for Agricultural Resilience (SoLAR) in South Asia aims to sustainably manage the water-energy and climate interlinkages in South Asia through the promotion of solar irrigation pumps (SIPs). The main goal of the project is to contribute to climate-resilient, gender-equitable, and socially inclusive agrarian livelihoods in Bangladesh, India, Nepal and Pakistan by supporting government efforts to promote solar irrigation. This project responds to government commitments to transition to clean energy pathways in agriculture. All countries in this project have NDC commitments to reduce greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions and SIPs can play a significant role in reducing emissions in agriculture. About IWMIThe International Water Management Institute (IWMI) is an international, research-for-development organization that works with governments, civil society and the private sector to solve water problems in developing countries and scale up solutions.Through partnership, IWMI combines research on the sustainable use of water and land resources, knowledge services and products with capacity strengthening, dialogue and policy analysis to support implementation of water management solutions for agriculture, ecosystems, climate change and inclusive economic growth. Headquartered in Colombo, Sri Lanka, IWMI is a CGIAR Research Center. About SDCThe Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation (SDC) is the agency for international cooperation of the Federal Department of Foreign Affairs (FDFA). Swiss international cooperation, which is an integral part of the Federal Council's foreign policy, aims to contribute to a world without poverty and in peace, for sustainable development. SDC, through its Global Programme Climate Change and Environment (GPCCE), helps find solutions to global challenges linked to climate change. It engages in global political dialogue and manages specific projects in the fields of energy, climate change adaptation, sustainable development of mountainous regions and prevention of natural hazards that are likely to influence regional and international policy.

Feasibility Analysis of Solar-Powered Tubewells in Arid and Sub-humid Regions of Rajasthan

“…India has been categorised as the world's largest user of groundwater and out of the total extraction, 87 per cent is utilised for irrigation purposes in the country. However, these liberalised policies have created a water-food-energy nexus in India where food security has been achieved at the cost of groundwater, energy and environmental sustainability (Mukherji, 2017;Yashodha et al, 2021;Mukherjee et al, 2022;Kaur & Sharma, 2022).…”

Table1.XLSX

“…Around 0.2 million SIPs were installed by the end of 2019. The number was expected to expand to 3 million installations by 2022 (Yashodha et al, 2021;IEA, 2022). While the total number of SIPs installed is uncertain due to lags in targeted installations and unreported sales, there is clear positive trend in the expansion of solar irrigation.…”