PV Irrigation System for Omani Farmers

Project description

The falaj is a traditional system for directing underground water to the surface by gravity. It has been used for domestic water supply and irrigation in Oman for centuries. Water distribution via the falaj is on a rotation basis.  It is 5 days in this particular village. Traditional irrigation is via channels and surface flooding. The objective of this pilot project is to collect one farmer’s share of water in a 50m3 ground reservoir and use solar energy and modern irrigation methods to irrigate an area of 0.3 hectare on a daily basis. Perceived benefits are improved irrigation efficiency, improved crop yields and reduced labour. The area irrigated is limited only by the quantity of stored water and 5-day cycle.

 

Why was PV selected?

The use of a photovoltaic pump was chosen as a reliable, modern but simple pumping method for low flows into low pressure drip and sprinkler irrigation blocks. No fossil fuels are required and by using solar energy the water production of the pump is in sync with the water consumption of the crops.

 

Special challenges

  •   Designing and matching the irrigation pressure and block size to the output of the pump.
  •   Overlaying a modern irrigation system on top of a traditional channel system such that either system can still be used in case the new system is not accepted by the farmer.
  •   Encouraging the farmers to plant half the area to vegetables under drip irrigation and half the area to fodder cops under sprinkler irrigation in order to test both irrigation methods.
  •   Locating a farm with enough open area to facilitate the installation of a solar array without shading from the abundant date palms.

Location

  • Luzugh Village, Sultanate of Oman

Project participants

  • National Field Research Centre for Environmental Conservation, Diwan of Royal Court, Oman
  • Earthwatch Institute, UK
  • Phaesun Middle East

    End user

    • Local farmer Suleiman Khalfan Al Andabi

    Installation

    • March – October 2015

    Size

    • 1,5 kWp

    Energy generated

    • 9 kWhrs daily, (3285 kWhrs/year)

    System components

    • 1.5kWp solar array supported on 2 aluminium support structures
    • Grundfos CU200 switchbox with display
    • Grundfos 1.3kW SQflex 8A-5 submersible pump/motor unit for 10m3/hr at 1.5bar pressure
    • Disc filter for up to 30m3/hr flow
    • 45 sprinklers on 1.25m high supports at 7m x 7m spacing in 5 rows
    • 9600 removable drippers 4l/h in 4 blocks of 30 x 24m rows (2400 drippers each block)
    • Associated mainlines, manifolds, laterals, ball valves & fittings