Use of solar powered auto irrigation system as solution of reduction of carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions in Rwanda

Abstract

In Rwanda, farmers in agriculture field are facing a lot of challenges especially pouring water in their field to keep their plants healthy. For combating with these challenges, an automatic irrigation system can be used. This is possible by using soil moisture sensors, Programmable Logic Controller, motor pumps and solenoid valves. Diesel pumping systems are mostly used in irrigation because most of the agriculture lands are located in areas where there is no electricity. In this paper the use of solar PV systems in agriculture irrigation as solution of reduction of carbon dioxide emissions (CO <inf xmlns:mml="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" xmlns:xlink="http://www.w3.org/1999/xlink">2</inf> ) in Rwanda is presented. Simulation with Hybrid optimization Model for Electric Renewables tool (HOMER) at Kigina site, Rweru sector, in Bugesera district shows that the diesel water pumping system emit a big amount of gases as it is found that emission of gases is 231,119kg/year for carbon dioxide (CO <inf xmlns:mml="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" xmlns:xlink="http://www.w3.org/1999/xlink">2</inf> ), 1,443kg/year for carbon monoxide (CO), 63.6kg/year for unburned hydrocarbons, 8.65kg/year for particular matter, 566kg/year sulfur dioxide (SO <inf xmlns:mml="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" xmlns:xlink="http://www.w3.org/1999/xlink">2</inf> ) and 1,356kg/year nitrogen oxide ($\mathrm{NO}_{\mathrm{x}}$) but for the solar PV systems no emission of those gazes. The benefit of using solar powered irrigation system is also demonstrated in terms of cost in this paper.