Techno-economic analysis of solar-powered irrigation systems for small-scale horticulture

Abstract:

What if small-scale horticulture farmers could irrigate without any recurring fuel or electricity bill? This research conducted a techno-economic comparison of solar photovoltaic (SPV), diesel, and grid-electric pump systems for drip irrigation in small-scale vegetable and flower production at Tamil Nadu Agricultural University, Coimbatore, and Sam Higginbottom University, Prayagraj, during 2022-24. Five SPV system sizes (1.0-3.0 kWp) were evaluated alongside diesel and grid benchmarks across both locations. A 2.0 kWp SPV system delivered 16.8 m³ of water per day-sufficient for 0.4 ha of drip-irrigated vegetables-at a levelized cost of ₹1.84 per m³ versus ₹4.62 (diesel) and ₹2.96 (grid). The payback period for the 2.0 kWp system was 3.8 years at Coimbatore and 4.2 years at Prayagraj. Internal rate of return exceeded 28% at both sites over a 15-year system life. Sensitivity analysis showed that a 30% capital subsidy reduced payback to 2.4 years. These results confirm that solar-powered irrigation is economically viable for small horticultural holdings in southern and northern India.