Techno-Economic Analysis and Challenges on Grid Integration of Solar Irrigation Pumps in Bangladesh

Abstract

Irrigation is an important area of Bangladesh where most cases it depends on fossil fuels, either diesel-powered irrigation systems or grid electricity-operated irrigation systems. Solar irrigation is an alternative way to promote clean energy in the irrigation sector which is in line to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals (SDG). A business model is essential for the promotion of Solar Irrigation Pumps (SIP), where alternative use of water and electricity after irrigation may play a vital role to make the business viable of solar irrigation pumps. Grid integration of SIP is one of the alternative uses where the techno-economic viability of SIP grid integration is an important issue to make acceptable to the solar irrigation operators. The government of Bangladesh published a dedicated grid integration guideline for SIP. Interested solar irrigation pump operators can take this facility by adding grid integration-related connections and additional equipment to their projects to supply surplus electricity into the distribution grid after irrigation uses. This paper analyzes the grid integration-related integration costing and surplus electricity pricing to understand the techno-economic viability of grid integration of solar irrigation pumps. According to the analysis result, higher-capacity solar irrigation pumps are financially viable for grid integration up to a certain distance. Also, this study gives a financial viability analysis of the combined grid integration of multiple SIPs.