Sustainable Conversion
of Diesel run Shallow Pump to Solar run Shallow Pump
The agriculture sector of Bangladesh is a
potential sector to implement sustainable energy initiatives. It is a promising
sector where out of 11 million hectares of land under rice production, modern
boro rice alone covers about 4.70 million hectares and nearly 98% of this area
requires irrigation. The present demand of 33 million electricity operated
irrigation pumps is about 1694 MW. However, power shortage and low voltage
affecting irrigation from the electricity operated pumps causing lower
production of crops. On the other hand, there are about 1.2 Million diesel operated pumps requiring 800 Million liter imported diesel per year. Considering the energy
crisis of the country and increasing price of petroleum products across the
globe, it is important to explore alternative energy sources for irrigation to
ensure both food and energy security. In this context, the sustainable conversion of diesel run
shallow pump to solar run shallow pump has tremendous potential
especially to decrease the dependence on diesel, an expensive liquid fuel. Solar E Technology has already
developed a prototype system and dedicatedly doing R & D exercise to
improve its performance and cost effectiveness.