Feasibility analysis of Diesel Pumps and Solar Pumps used in irrigation for sustainable development

Agriculture is regarded as the backbone of the Indian economy, with irrigation playing a pivotal role in ensuring productivity. Nowadays, a considerable number of farmers are using diesel pumps for irrigation, resulting in a high operational cost and environmental degradation. With India's aspirations towards renewable energy, solar irrigation pumps [1], [2], [3]are emerging as a feasible alternative. The present paper takes up the features of SIPs[4], [5], [6], issues in the transition, and long-term benefits accruing to farmers and the environment. Agriculture, without a doubt, is one of the pillars of the Indian economy. Somehow, agriculture, in terms of productivity and technology, has developed very much in India after independence. India's development engine runs mainly on energy sourced from fossil fuels. Currently, it has emerged as the third-largest country contributing to global emissions of greenhouse gases, following China and the USA.It has been revealed that the isolated working of a diesel pump set is not cost-effective by any means. Solar irrigation pump sets are more advantageous than any hybrid Photovoltaic Diesel Generator-battery-powered pump systems only if one has a big storage tank. In case there is no storage tank, the excess electricity fraction increases up to 84%, which can then be availed for domestic needs or utilised for any agricultural needs. It is becoming clear that solar photovoltaic (PV) pumps [7], [8] are recently seen as a very good option compared to electric and diesel-operated pumps[9], [10], [11], [12]. Water issues are intertwined with food supply and trade. Agriculture presently uses about 3200 billion m3, or 72% of the international water withdrawals. Water use in agriculture will reach 4600 billion m3 by 2030 without any efficiency improvements.

Since the sizes of their land are generally small, together with the great costs of obtaining the inputs, this becomes more affecting for small and marginal farmers.[13], [14]

 Solar is also the favorite due to its abundant availability almost everywhere, even in remote areas, eliminating the need to burn diesel to power a water pump. Given the electricity shortages and soaring diesel prices, they exert great influence over the pumping demand of the urban water supply and irrigation. Consequently, solar power is the best alternative to conventional water pumps, which are highly dependent on electricity and diesel to operate.[10], [15], [16]

Solar irrigation pumps (SIPs) have become a potential solution for irrigation systems with regard to diesel and electricity-powered pump sets, especially in developing countries[17], [18], [19]. Yet, against the backdrop of the fiscal and environmental as well as socio-economic ramifications of strategies adopted for previous irrigation systems. India has installed 510520.95 MW of capacity, including both central as well as state sectors till 31.1.2026. Different resources constitute different shares in electricity generation, as coal holds 42.9%. Gas: 3.9%. Diesel: 0.1%. Nuclear: 1.7%. renewable (Solar, Wind, Bio, Small Hydro): 50.6%.

Agriculture is a very significant part of the Indian economy; it provides sustenance to over 50 percent of India's population and also contributes 17 to 18 % to the country's Gross Domestic Product (GDP) (India Economic Survey).[20], [21], [22] The agriculture sector consumes commercial energy supplies (electric power and diesel oil) as an essential input for providing timely and adequate amounts of water for crops. Solar irrigation systems are sustainable options that can improve the well-being of local communities and increase agricultures and their resilience to climate impacts while minimizing the damaging environmental impacts. The high initial investments incurred have made these systems unattractive to smallholder farmers who prefer using traditional fossil-fuel-based irrigation systems that are hazardous to both human health and the environment. Thus, using these areas requires eco-friendly and efficient water pumping systems, considering the costs involved and environmental damage incurred by conventional diesel-operated systems. The popularity increase in India is being driven by the intense demand for energy. The topic of alternative and clean energy is emerging as a global issue, with India being a major participant.[23], [24], [25], [26]

The problems of water scarcity and availability for agriculture are critical in most developing countries. One mover behind the visions is the need to use highly innovative mechanisms to reduce water and electricity consumption and improve production. Among these innovations are solar photovoltaic (PV) water-pumping systems, which provide a very viable option by being cost-competitive and environmentally friendly as well as energy secure.

This is also where India leans hardest on groundwater for irrigation, with some estimate 32 million pumps run on diesel, electricity, and solar energy. Subsidised electricity, therefore, helps push farmers toward using electric pumps, even as electrification continues to spread and diesel prices climb. And on its own, the government subsidy has, in a way, already played a sizable role in getting irrigation pumps in place for farmers, either for smallholders to manage directly or for them to use themselves.[27], [28], [29], [30]

It would kind of speed up how quickly SIPs spread, help increase the country's agricultural output, and also improve environmental conditions. Electricity shortages and rising diesel costs mostly govern the need for water pumping in the urban water supply and irrigation across Bangladesh. To work around these issues, solar power for water pumping looks like the best alternative compared with the older setups that rely on grid electricity or diesel. For some time, developmental actors have been pushing for the diffusion of solar-powered irrigation technologies, because it should be more reliable in practice.[31] by applying various technology development models in resource-constrained, underdeveloped agrarian regions of the Global South. Among all these models, the hybrid model of technology diffusion and environmental governance has gained significant traction with and support from the technology promoters in the past few years[32]

Such a transition is going to be useful for DISCOMs and farmers in meeting the irrigation demand and lessening dependence on utility-procured power. When a pump is idle, a grid-connected solar pump can send the solar-harvested electricity back to the grid, which can generate an additional source of income. Along with this, there is a need to strengthen the economic aspects in the adjoining area of grid-connected SIPs under component C of the PM KUSUM scheme for making the agriculture sector financially sustainable.[33], [34]

Most developing countries, such as India and Sub-Saharan Africa, have already recognized solar-pumped irrigation as a climate-smart technology that satisfies the increasing demand for irrigation[11], [35]

II.METHOLOGY

 The study is based on secondary research from government reports, case studies, and  Data on diesel pump usage, solar pump adoption benefits, and diesel cost. Comparisons were collected from various sources, including agricultural departments and renewable energy agencies. Farmers' feedback was also analyzed to understand the practicality of implementing SIPs. In assessing the economic viability of solar irrigation, the amount spent on diesel fuel consumed by a 15HP engine is considered. The diesel pumps, when switched over to solar irrigation pumps, benefited the farmers by saving their cost on diesel, which was the economic benefit derived.

The carbon emission reduction, marking an environmental edge in solar irrigation pumps, has been assessed here. To determine the carbon emission reduction, the amount of diesel saved for irrigation was first quantified with the application of the relation given below.

15 HP diesel pump set = 3.2 per Litre hour consumed diesel

1 liter diesel = 2.6 kg CO2 emission

1 kg CO2 = 0.27 kg carbon

According to the Ministry of Agriculture & Farmers Welfare available data ( on July 2024) total Agriculture Land in India is 219158000 Hectare ( 219.15 million hectares), is a significant portion of irrigation in India still relies on diesel pump sets, with estimates suggesting that around 80% of installed irrigation pump horsepower in India is powered by diesel; meaning a large majority of irrigation pumps in the country are diesel-powered. In 80% diesel pump sets, it means 175.32 million hectares of land irrigated by diesel pumps

 III. RESULT AND DISCUSSION

However, the average area for which these operations were performed (Paddy, Wheat, Barley, Bajra, Groundnut, Lentils, Sugarcane, and Maize cultivation) is about 0.40 hectares for each of them. In Table 1, Diesel consumption during irrigation was discussed concerning the total area under crops such as Paddy, Wheat, Barley, Bajra, Groundnut, Lentils, Sugarcane, Maize, and Groundnut through these 15 HP Diesel Pumps. In irrigating an area of one hectare, a 15 HP diesel pumping unit shall take approximately 6 hours. The average diesel consumption was estimated to be 3.20 Liters per hour by the 15 HP diesel pumping unit during the periods of study, and diesel was estimated to cost 92.37 per Litre during the study period. The respondent farmers stated 36 irrigations for paddy in the study area. The area allotted by the sample farmers for paddy was estimated to be 0.16 Hectares per farm; therefore, the quantity of diesel needed to irrigate 0.16 Hectares of paddy amounted to 73.72 litres in the study area. Therefore, farmers spent a total of `6,809.51 rupees on diesel used for irrigating the paddy crop at `92.37 per Litre. (see Table No. -1 )

We know that,

                    A 15 HP diesel pump set = 3.2 liters per hour consumed diesel

 Total diesel consumption per hectare = 15 HP diesel pump set running in 1 hour.  × Time required per irrigation × No. of  irrigation

                                                             = 3.20×4×36

                                                             = 460.8  Liter /Hectare

    Diesel consumption of paddy farm = Total diesel consumption per hectare × area of farm

                                                            = 460.8 × 0.16

                                                             = 73.72 Liter

Total cost of Diesel in the paddy farm = Diesel consumption of the paddy farm ×Current cost of diesel

                                                              =73.72×92.37  

                                                             = 6809.51 Rupees

TABLE -1 .  Diesel Consumption (in Litres) , CO2 and Carbon emitting (into the atmosphere) of the Total Agricultural Area Irrigation by 15- Horsepower diesel engine pump set in Arming Crops

Similarly, all crops from the calculation are the same Under the study, wheat sample farming was given   six irrigations during the crop period.  The total wheat cultivated area by normal farmers in the study area was estimated to be 1.00 hectares per farm. As a result, farmers had to burn 153.6 Liters of diesel to irrigate 1.00 hectares of wheat during the growing season of the crop by using 15 HP diesel pumps. The total expenditure incurred on diesel used for irrigating the wheat crop was 14188 rupees. (see table no 1.)

The estimated total area allocated by sample farmers for Barley cultivation in the study area was 0.41 hectares per farm. Sample farmers irrigated a barley crop in a complete life-cycle by means of six irrigations and provided to the barley crop, which would require eight hours of running a diesel pump to irrigate a 0.41-hectare area of the wheat crop, a total diesel consumption of 62.97 Liters. Hence, the cost of diesel used for barley irrigation is at a rate of  92.37 per Liter is 5816.53 rupees. (see table no -1 )

About six irrigations were being provided by sample farmers to the bajra crops in a season. It was revealed that farmers allot 0.99 hectares of area for bajra cultivation per farm. With a 15 HP diesel pump, 152.06 Liters of diesel were used in the irrigation of about 0.99 hectares of barley crop. The diesel cost at Rs. 92.37 per Liter thus comes to Rs. 14045.78 for the bajra. (see Table No. -1 )

The total area put aside by the sample farmers in the study area for groundnut cultivation was estimated to be close to 0.70 hectares for each farm. Sample farmers were irrigating groundnut crops six times during the complete life-cycle, and they needed to supply one irrigation to groundnut crops that must be run by using a diesel pump for about eight hours. So, the total amount of diesel used to irrigate this 0.70-hectare area of the groundnut crop was 107.52 Liters. Accordingly, the total cost of diesel at the rate of 92.37 litres for the irrigation of wheat comes to 9931.61 rupees. (see table no 1)

A total area of 0.20 ha was estimated for lentil cultivation by the normal farmers in the study area. The sample farmers used to irrigate the Masoor crop thrice during its entire life cycle and provide one irrigation to the Lentils crop, shall run a diesel engine pump set for 4 hours. Therefore, the total diesel consumption for the irrigation of Lentils has been accounted for at 7.68 litres for irrigating 0.20 ha of area. Thus, the total price of diesel used for lentil irrigation works out to be Rs. 709.4. (see the table no. 1), at the rate of `92.37 per Litre.

The overall area allotted for sugarcane cultivation by the sample farmers in the study is around 0.16 hectares per farm. Sample farmers irrigated the sugarcane crop 12 times during the entire growing season and, in addition, provided irrigation to the sugarcane crop, which requires running the diesel pump for about eight hours. The total diesel consumed for irrigating.

0.16 hectares of sugarcane crop is 49.15 Liters, hence the total cost of diesel used for wheat irrigation at the rate of  92.37  per Litre is   4539.98. (see table no -1 )

For maize cultivation, the total area allocated by the sample farmers in the study area was estimated as 0.16 hectares per farm. Irrigation for the maize crop during its entire life-cycle was carried out 9 times by the sample farmers, where one irrigation required the operation of a diesel pump for 8 hours. Therefore, the total diesel used to irrigate an area of 0.16 hectares for the maize crop was 36.86 Liters. Therefore, the total cost of diesel used for irrigation during the maize crop at the rate of ` 92.37 per Litre comes to 3404.75. (see Table No. 1)

From the findings above, it was evident that if 15 HP diesel irrigation pump was used in irrigating 0.16 hectares of Paddy, 1 hectare of Wheat, 0.41 hectares of Barley, 0.99 hectares of Bajra, 0.70 hectares of Groundnut, 0.20 hectares of Masoor, 0.16 hectares of Sugarcane, and 0.16 hectares of Maize cultivation, it would amount to a total diesel consumption of 643.56 Liters for each farm. This means the farmer had to spend 59442.65 on irrigation in one year. With the respondents currently not employing any diesel irrigation pumps, there was no diesel consumption for irrigation. Thus, the diesel savings accruing to each farmer would be `59442.65. It would also mean that using solar irrigation pumps for irrigation instead of diesel irrigation pumps each year saved 643.56 Liters of diesel per farm. (see the table no. 1).

B. ENVIRONMENTAL  BENEFITS OF SOLAR IRRIGATION PUMP SET

The adoption of solar pumps for irrigation has rendered an environmentally friendly effect through carbon emission reduction from the use of diesel pumps for irrigation purposes. Thus, carbon emission reduction was estimated by first converting the savings of diesel on irrigation into kg of Co2 and then converting the amount of carbon dioxide corresponding to the amount of carbon. Thus, Table 2 presents diesel consumption, Co2, and carbon emissions per hectare of Paddy, Barley, Wheat, Bajra, Groundnut, Masoor, Sugarcane, and Maize cultivation by a 15 HP diesel irrigation pump.    

The paddy crop used 460.8 Liters of diesel for the irrigation of one hectare per season. The burning of diesel released 1,198.08 kg of CO2 into the atmosphere; thus, only 323.48 kg of carbon would be released into the atmosphere from paddy (see Table No. 2).

We know that,

                                  1 liter diesel = 2.6 kg CO2 emission

                                      1 kg CO2 = 0.27 kg carbon.

       CO2 emission of Paddy farm = Total diesel consumption in 1 hectare × 1 litre diesel generates CO2 emission

                                                       = 460.8*2.6

                                                       =1198.08 Kg CO2 emission

   Carbon emission of paddy farm = CO2 emission of Paddy farm×1 kg CO2

                                                      = 1198.08 * 0.27

                                              = 323.48   kg carbon

Similarly, all crops from the calculation are the same. For one hectare of wheat, the operation of the 15 HP diesel irrigation pump consumed 153.6 Liters of diesel. With such operation, the pump produces 399.36 kg of carbon dioxide, hence releasing 107.82 kg of carbon to the environment (see Table  -2 ).

The irrigation of one hectare of barley surface would consume approximately 153.6 litres of diesel for the entire season. Pollution simply by burning this much additional diesel would mean an extra 399.36 Kg of carbon dioxide emission into the atmosphere, and from that, 107.82 Kg of this carbon could have been emitted directly into the atmosphere by barley only. ((see the Table 2 ).

TABLE 2.  Diesel Consumption (in Litres) , CO2 and Carbon emissions (into the atmosphere) of the Total Agricultural Area Irrigation by a 15-horsepower diesel engine pump set in Arming Crops

The bajra crops require 153.6 Liters of diesel to irrigate a one-hectare land for one season. Burning this diesel fuel adds 399.36 kilograms of carbon dioxide to the atmosphere, which is equivalent to 107.82 kilograms of bajra carbon. (see the table no -2).

    It revealed that using one hectare of land for the cultivation of groundnut during one season consumed 153.6 liters of diesel in the process of irrigation. This amount of burned diesel would thus emit 399.36 Kg of carbon dioxide into the air as effluents, resulting in the atmospheric emission of 107.82 Kg of carbon solely from groundnut crops. (see the table no -2 ).

For the lentil crop, the amount of diesel consumed for irrigation under one hectare for one season is 38.4 Liters. This burning of diesel will throw up as much as 99.84 Kg into the atmosphere in the form of carbon dioxide fumes, contributing a further 26.95 Kg of carbon from Lentils alone. (see the table no -2 ).

In the case of sugarcane, an irrigation of 1 hectare during the season consumed 307.2 Liters of diesel. About 798.72 Kg of carbon dioxide, released into the atmosphere by burning, yielded an emission of 215.74 Kg of carbon into the atmosphere solely because of sugarcane. (see Table No. -2 ).

The maize crop required an irrigation of 1 ha for one growing season, which consumed 230.4 Liters of diesel. This amount of diesel burned casts 599.04 Kg of carbon dioxide emissions to the atmosphere, from which 161.74 Kg was additional carbon loss from the atmosphere just from growing maize. (see the table no. 2).

C.ESTIMATION OF CARBON EMISSION FROM THE AREA IRRIAGATED BY DIESEL PUMPS SET OF SELECTED CROPS IN INDIA

″ TABLE 2 shows the diesel consumption, Co2, and carbon emissions when the total area of Paddy, wheat, Barley, Bajra, Groundnut, lentils, Sugarcane, and Maize, whose irrigation in India is done by diesel pumps of several HP, is considered to have been irrigated by 15 HP diesel irrigation pumps.

            In the case of Paddy, India had a total area under crops of 38262400 ha. Irrigation in an area of 38262400 ha using 15 HP diesel pumps would require fuel in diesel of around 17600.7 million litres. This would lead to the emission of 4576182 tons of carbon dioxide, which in turn results in the emission of 1235569.14 tons of carbon dioxide released in atmosphere per year. (See Table no 3)

We know that,

                                1 liter diesel = 2.6 kg CO2 emission

                                    1 kg CO2 = 0.27 kg carbon.

     CO2 emission of Paddy farm = Total diesel consumption in 1hactare × 1 liter diesel  generate CO2 emission

                                                    = 38262400×2.6

                                                    =17600.7 million liters

Carbon emission of paddy farm = CO2 emission of Paddy farm* 1 kg CO2

                                              = 17600.7 × 0.27

                                              = 1235569.14 tons carbon

Similarly, all crops from the calculation are the same

All this, then, brings us to the area of wheat cultivation, whose total area covered is 25466400 hectares irrigated with a diesel pump. It is estimated that for such an area irrigated by 15 HP pumps, around 3911.6 million liters of diesel would be consumed. Using this amount of diesel as fuel would total carbon dioxide emission to 1017016 tons or 274594.32 tons of carbon emitted into the air yearly. (See Table no 3)

According to Barley, the crop area in India was 440800 hectares. To irrigate 440800 hectares of area by a 15HP diesel pump, 67.7 million liters of diesel would be used. This works out to 17602 tons of carbon dioxide emission and eventually 4752.54 tons of carbon emitting in the atmosphere per year (See Table 3).

For Bajra, the area under crops in India in total was estimated at 525520 hectares. The irrigation of a 525520-hectare area would require 80.7 million Liters of diesel as fuel for 15 HP diesel pumps, releasing 20982 tons of Co2 and 5665.14 tons of carbon into the atmosphere every year(See Table no 3)

            In the case of groundnut cultivation, the total area under crops was 376,000 hectares in India. This area would be irrigated using 15 HP diesel pumps, burning 57.7 million Liters of diesel. This burning would result in generating 15,002 tons of carbon dioxide, causing an annual emission of 40.50 tons of carbon into the atmosphere. (See Table no 3)

TABLE 3.  Diesel Consumption (in Litres) , CO2 and Carbon emissions In air from the  Agricultural Area and land  Irrigation  by a 15-horsepower diesel engine pump set .