Abstract
A base-line survey was conducted in 2010 at different locations of Bangladesh to know the present status of solar pumps. The respondents were solar pump users, suppliers and service providers. There were about 150 solar pumps in Bangladesh, among them 65 % were used for supplying drinking water to the poor people of the locality and about 35 % solar pumps were used for irrigation purposes. The size of solar pumps varied from 300 to 1,190 Wp and discharge capacity varied from 2,000 to 800,000 L/day. Panel cost was the major cost (45 %) in solar pump followed by the costs of installation (18 %), motor (16 %), pump (10 %), and pipes and fittings (4 %). Life cycle cost of diesel engine-operated pump was lower up to 5 years. After 5 years, the life cycle cost of solar pump became lower than that of diesel engine-operated pump. Benefit cost ratio, net present value and internal rate of return of solar pump were found higher than diesel-operated pump. Therefore, solar pump is profitable and investment on solar pump is more risk free than diesel engine-operated pump. Diesel engine-operated irrigation pump emits carbon dioxide and pollutes environment, but solar pump is an environment-friendly irrigation technology.
Highlights
There are about 1.71 million irrigation pumps in Bangladesh among them 83 % are diesel engine-operated and 17 % are electricity operated [1]
There were about 150 solar pumps in Bangladesh, among them 65 % were used for supplying drinking water to the poor people of the locality and about 35 % solar pumps were used for irrigation purposes
The lowest discharge was in BUET (Bangladesh University of Engineering and Technology) pump used for ground water lifting whereas the highest discharge was from Lorentz pump for surface water irrigation
Summary
There are about 1.71 million irrigation pumps in Bangladesh among them 83 % are diesel engine-operated and 17 % are electricity operated [1]. Solar pump may be an alternative for small-scale irrigation for crop production in the off-grid areas of Bangladesh. Solar pump is a pollutionfree and environment-friendly water pumping system in agriculture. Bangladesh is endowed with abundant supply of solar energy. In Bangladesh about 60 % land is under irrigation. There is a vast area to be irrigated where most of the areas (Charland, coastal area, hilly area, etc.,) have no grid connection. Solar PV pump may be used for irrigating these lands to enhance crop production and to increase cropping intensity
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Free) 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a call
