Economic Analysis of the Using of Traditional Fuel and Solar Energy to Power Irrigation Pumps in Egypt

Abstract:

Water requirements in Egypt are growing due to population rise, improving living standard, and agriculture expansion. Nowadays, the agricultural sector represents the largest amount of the total water consumption in Egypt. In addition, the Egyptian government goal is to reclaim - as much - land in the desert to meet the food needs. In Egypt, most of electric energy depends on diesel powered generators; furthermore, desert areas are far away from the electric grids. These are the current considerable problems to reclaim desert in Egypt. On the other hand, delivering and using diesel is facing different economic and environmental risks due to its raising price as well as air pollution and global warming. Sustainable development is a challenge of Egyptian government; therefore, using solar energy applications can serve the unique needs of Egyptians who inhabit in desert area. One of these applications is the “off-grid solar water pumps” that discharge underground water from deep wells for agricultural uses. In this paper an economic study is presented to compare between using pumping system powered by traditional fossil fuel and another system powered by solar energy generated from PV panels to operate a farm in the desert fringes. The water pumping system is designed to irrigate a farm of 10 feddans. Based on the results of this study, it is recommended to use solar energy in desert reclamation due to its long run efficiency, environment conservation, and lower total life cycle cost.

• Periodical: International Journal of Engineering Research in Africa (Volume 38)
• Pages: 87-99
• DOI: https://doi.org/10.4028/www.scientific.net/JERA.38.87
• Online since: September 2018
• Authors: Enas R. Shouman, Hesham Ezz*, Emad S. Bakhoum
• Keywords: Economic Analysis, Irrigation, Life Cycle Costing, Photovoltaic, Pomegranate Trees, PV Energy, Solar Energy, Solar Water Pumping

References

[1] T.A. Bhat, An Analysis of Demand and Supply of Water in India, Journal of Environment and Earth Science, 2014, Vol.4,67-72.

[2] Information on A Green and Prosperous Middle East. Thursday, January 24, 2013. http://greenandprosperousmiddleeast.blogspot.com/2013/01/solar-panelsirrigation-and-local.html.

[3] Information on Centre for Technology Alternatives for Rural Areas, Indian Institute of Technology. Application of Solar PV based Pumping for irrigation: A survey Report. Bombay Powai, Mumbai 400076.December2012.

DOI: 10.7900/jot.2019nov02.2273

[4] M. Buresch, Photovoltaic energy systems. New York: McGraw-Hill; (1983).

[5] W. Halcrow, Hand book on solar water pumping. UNDP Project GLO/80/003, World Bank, United Nations.UK: Reading; (1984).

[6] M.M. Mahmoud, Experience results and techno-economic feasibility of using photovoltaic generators insteadof diesel motors for water pumping from rural desert wells in Jordan. IEE Proc 1990, 137, Pt C(6).

DOI: 10.1049/ip-c.1990.0053

[7] P.Persad, N.Sangster, C.Edward, A. Ramkhalawan, and A.Maharajh, Investigating the Feasibility of Solar Powered Irrigation for Food Crop Production: A Caroni Case. The Journal of the Association of Professional Engineers of Trinidad and Tobago, 2011, Vol. 40(2), pp.61-65.

[8] Information on NAMREP, Feasibility Assessment for the Replacement of Diesel Pumps with Solar Pumps - Final Report, Ministry of Mines and Energy Barrier Removal to Namibian Renewable Energy Programme, September, (2006).

[9] K.Meah, S.Ula, and S.Barrett, Solar photovoltaic water pumping: opportunities and challenges.Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, 2008, Vol.12, pp.1162-1175.

DOI: 10.1016/j.rser.2006.10.020

[10] A. Closas, and E. Rap, Solar-based groundwater pumping for irrigation: Sustainability, policies, and limitations, Energy Policy, 2017, Vol. 104, 33-37.

DOI: 10.1016/j.enpol.2017.01.035

[11] M.A. Hammad, Characteristics of solar water pumping in Jordan.Energy, 1999, Vol. 24, pp.85-92.

DOI: 10.1016/s0360-5442(98)00078-4

[12] T.Khatib, Design of photovoltaic water pumping system at minimum cost for Palestine: a review. Journal of applied sciences, 2010, Vol.10, no.22, pp.2773-2784.

DOI: 10.3923/jas.2010.2773.2784

[13] P.D. Narale, N.S. Rathore, and S.Kothari, Study of Solar PV Water Pumping System for Irrigation of Horticulture Crops. International Journal of Engineering Science Invention, 2013, Vol. 2, no. 12, pp.54-60.

[14] Z.Glasnovic and J.Margeta, Maximum area that can be economically irrigated by solar photovoltaic pumping system, Journal of Irrigation and Drainage Engineering, 2009, Vol.135,no. 1, pp.44-49.

DOI: 10.1061/(asce)0733-9437(2009)135:1(44)

[15] L.Kelley, E.Gilbertson, A.Sheikh, S.Eppinger, and S.Dubowsk, On the feasibility of solar-powered irrigation. Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, 2010, Vol. 14, no. 9, 2669-2682.

DOI: 10.1016/j.rser.2010.07.061

[16] Y. Yingdong, L. Jiahong, W. Hao, and L. Miao, Assess the potential of solar irrigation systems for sustaining pasture lands in arid regions – A case study in Northwestern China. Institution of Water Resources and Hydropower Research, Beijing, China, (2011).

DOI: 10.1016/j.apenergy.2011.02.028

[17] P.R. Arora, World's Highest Off-grid Solar PV Potential in India-Search and Penetrate. International Journal of Scientific and Research Publications, 2013, Vol. 3, no. 8, pp.1-7.

[18] A.G. Bhave, Potential for solar water-pumping systems in India.Applied Energy 1994, Vol. 48, 197–200.

DOI: 10.1016/0306-2619(94)90008-6

[19] T.T. Chandratilleke, J. C.Ho, A study of a photovoltaic array for water Solar & Wind pumping Technology 1986, Vol. 3, 59–71.

DOI: 10.1016/0741-983x(86)90049-4

[20] V. Badescu, Time dependent model of a complex PV water pumping system, Renewable Energy 2003, Vol. 28, 543–60.

DOI: 10.1016/s0960-1481(02)00069-1

[21] E.S. Hrayshat M.S. Al-Soud, Potential of solar energy development for water pumping in Jordan, Renewable Energy, 2004, Vol. 29, 1393–1399.

DOI: 10.1016/j.renene.2003.12.016

[22] A.R. Al-Ali, S. Rehman, S. Al-Agili M.H. Al-Omari,M.Al-Fayezi,Usageof photovoltaicinan automatedirrigationsystem, RenewableEnergy, 2001, Vol. 23, 17–26.

DOI: 10.1016/s0960-1481(00)00110-5

[23] A.Mokeddem, A. Midoun,D. Kadri, S. Hiadsi, I.A. Raja. Performanceofa directlycoupledPVwaterpumpingsystem, EnergyConversionandManagement, 2011, Vol. 52, 3089–3095.

DOI: 10.1016/j.enconman.2011.04.024

[24] A.T. El-Beltagy, and A.F. Abo-Hadeed, The main pillars of the National Program for maximizing the water-use efficiency in the old land, The Research and Development Council MOALR (In Arabic), 2008, 30 pages bulletin.

[25] Information on https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Water_resources_management_in_modern_Egypt.

[26] M.H. Nour,A. Ghanem, M. Buchholz, and A.F. Nassar, Greenhouse Based Desalination for Sustainable Agriculture in Desert Climate, International IWA Conference on Desalination, Environment and Marine Outfall Systems, At Muscat, Sultanate of Oman, (2014).

[27] I.H.M. El-Bagouri, Management of productive lands of Egypt: A presentation in IGBP Regional Workshop – MENA, 20-21 November 2008, Cairo, Egypt.

[28] N.M. Khattab, H. Soliman, M. Metias, I. El-Seesy, E. Mettawee, E. El-Shenawy, M. Hassan, Implementation of Solar Technologies in the Development ofRural, Remote and Sub urban Communities, Int. J. of Thermal & Environmental Engineering,2011,Vol. 3, no. 2, 59-66.

DOI: 10.5383/ijtee.03.02.001

[29] Information onhttp://iasks.org/sites/default/files/ijtee20110302059066.pdf,Egyptian-German Private Sector Development Programme, Prospects of the Renewable Energy Sector in Egypt, Focus on Photovoltaic and Wind Energy, Cairo, Egypt, (2010).

[30] E.R. Shouman, E.T. El Shenawy, and M.A. Badr, Economics Analysis of Diesel and Solar Water Pumping with Case Study Water pumping for Irrigation in Egypt, , International Journal of Applied Engineering Research" (IJAER), 2015,Vol. 11, Issue 2, 950-954.

[31] Information onhttp://iasks.org/sites/default/files/ijtee20110302059066.pdf, Egyptian-German Private Sector Development Programme, Prospects of the Renewable Energy Sector in Egypt. Focus on Photovoltaic and Wind Energy. Cairo, Egypt, (2010).

[32] E.R. Shouman, E.T. El Shenawy N.M. Khattab, Market financial analysis and cost performance for photovoltaic technology through international and national perspective with case study for Egypt , Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, 2016, Vol. 57, 540-549.

DOI: 10.1016/j.rser.2015.12.074

[33] E.R. Shouman, N.M. Khattab, Future economic of concentrating solar power (CSP) for electricity generation in Egypt, Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, 2015, Vol. 41, 1119-1127.

DOI: 10.1016/j.rser.2014.08.067

[34] A.Behnia,. Comparison of different irrigation methods for pomegranate orchards in Iran.Irrigation under conditions of water scarcity.17th Int. Congr. Irrigation and Drainage, 1999, Granada, Spain, 1C:207–217.

[35] S.Q. Chopade, S.D. Gorantiwar, P.S. Pampattiwar, and V.S. Supe, Response of pomegranate todrip, bubbler and surface irrigationmethods, Adv.Hort. Forest. 2001, Vol. 8, 53–59.

[36] S.H. Seidhom, and G. Abd-El-Rahman, Prediction of Traditional Climatic Changes Effect on Pomegranate Trees Under Desert Condition in EL-Maghara, Egypt, Journal of American Science, 2011,Vol. 7, no. 4.

[37] D.Holland, K. Hatib, and I. Bar-Yaakov, Pomegranate: botany, horticulture and breeding. Hort. Rev., 2009, Vol. 35, 127-191.

DOI: 10.1002/9780470593776.ch2

[38] M.M. Khattab A.E. Shaban, A.H. El-Shrief, and A.S. El-Deen Mohamed,Growth and productivity of pomegranate trees under different irrigation levels. I: Vegetative growth and fruiting, J. Hortic. Sci. Ornam. Plants, 2011, Vol. 3, no.2, 194-198.

[39] P.Bhantana, and N.Lazarovitch, Evapotranspiration, crop coefficient and growth of two young pomegranate (Punica granatum L.) varieties under salt stress, Agricultural water management, 2010,Vol. 97, no. 5, 715-22.

DOI: 10.1016/j.agwat.2009.12.016

[40] G.M. Levin,. Pomegranate roads:a Soviet botanist's exile from Eden. 2006, p.15–183. B.L. Baer (ed.), Floreat Press, Forestville, CA.

[41] J. Doorenbos,and W.O. Pruitt, Crop water requirements, Irrig.& Drain,1984, Paper No. 24, FAO, Rome, Italy.

[42] J. Kaller, and R.D. Bliesner, Sprinkle and Trickle irrigation.AVI Book by at Nostrand Reinhold New York, U.S.A,(1990).