Analyzing the Economic Viability and Design of Solar-Powered Water Pumps for Farming Irrigation: Case Study Conducted in Somalia

In Somalia, livestock and agriculture are key economic sectors, heavily dependent on water resources, primarily from the Juba and Shabelle rivers used for irrigation. Traditional energy sources for irrigation are costly and require daily maintenance. Farmers distant from these rivers rely on only two rainy seasons for crop growth, However, some seasons fail to rain, and drought occurs. This study aims to evaluate the design and economics of a solar-powered photovoltaic water pumping (PVWP) system for irrigation in Somalia. A banana farm in the south served as a case study, receiving about 5.25 Kwh/m(2) of solar radiation daily. The water needs for various crops were assessed using the CROPWAT program. Crops like sugarcane, mango, and banana were found to be the most water-intensive, while sorghum, beans, and watermelon needed less water. Two PVWP system designs, AC and DC, were simulated using PVSYST software. The AC system required 6 solar panels (285wp each) to pump 82m3/day, while the DC system achieved this with just 4 panels and greater efficiency. Economic analysis compared these systems with diesel water pumps (DWPs), using metrics like capital cost, life cycle cost, and cost per cubic meter of pumped water. The cost per cubic meter was 0.17 USD for the DC system and 0.22 USD for the AC system, significantly lower than the 0.68 USD for DWPs. The study concludes that solar photovoltaic technology can enhance agricultural productivity and food production, improving farmers' livelihoods and contributing to Somalia's economic development.