Economic Analysis of a Solar Operated Irrigation Pump for Different Crops under Egyptian Climatic Conditions

- - The present investigation aims to analyze and compare the performance of a photovoltaic-powered submersible pump under three various climatic conditions in Egypt. The pump is employed to irrigate wheat and maize crops in a one-feddan farm by adopting the actual well depth and crop water requirement in the proposed locations. Furthermore, the total power of solar modules required to operate this pump is computed to reveal the auxiliary power needed for these crops at the proposed locations during their irrigation season. At the introduced weather conditions, an economic analysis is conducted to examine the feasibility of the solar powered pump versus that operated by traditional diesel generator. The results reveal that the net generated power via the PV panels to operate a pump used to irrigate wheat crop is 325, 495 and 17 kW and for maize crop is 1786, 1767 and 266 kW in Aswan, Alexandria and Giza cities, respectively. In Alexandria, Giza, and Aswan cities, utilizing solar PV panels as a power source for the pump used to irrigate wheat crop has proven its economic feasibility as it is expected to dramatically reduce the total cost by around 49, 46, and 76%, respectively and for maize crop cost is reduced by 47, 48 and 66% in the same locations compared to diesel generators.