Solar-powered irrigation system is an application of solar-powered water pumping system used in paddy fields, gardens for watering the plants, vegetables, etc.
The Advantages of Solar Powered Irrigation:
- Solar power is pollution free and causes no greenhouse gases to be emitted after installation
- Reduced dependence on foreign oil and fossil fuels
- Renewable clean power that is available every day of the year, even cloudy days produce some power
- Return on investment unlike paying for utility bills
- Virtually no maintenance as solar panels last over 30 years
- Creates jobs by employing solar panel manufacturers, solar installers, etc. and in turn helps the economy
- Excess power can be sold back to the power company if grid intertied
- Ability to live grid free if all power generated provides enough for the home / building
- Can be installed virtually anywhere; in a field to on a building
- Use batteries to store extra power for use at night
- Solar can be used to heat water, power homes and building, even power cars
- Safer than traditional electric current
- Efficiency is always improving so the same size solar that is available today will become more efficient tomorrow
- Aesthetics are improving making the solar more versatile compared to older models; i.e. printing, flexible, solar shingles, etc.
- Federal grants, tax incentives, and rebate programs are available to help with initial costs
The Disadvantages of Solar Powered Irrigation:
- High initial costs for material and installation and long ROI
- Needs lots of space as efficiency is not 100% yet
- No solar power at night so there is a need for a large battery bank
- Some people think they are ugly (I am definitely not one of those!)
- Devices that run on DC power directly are more expensive
- Depending on geographical location the size of the solar panels vary for the same power generation
- Cloudy days do not produce much energy
- Solar panels are not being massed produced due to lack of material and technology to lower the cost enough to be more affordable
- Solar powered cars do not have the same speeds and power as typical gas powered cars
- Lower production in the winter months
Read more: Testimoni Mosehat Untuk Penyakit Hipertensi (Darah Tinggi).