Ecology, Environment and Conservation Paper

CUTTING EDGE ADVANTAGE OF SOLAR OVER THECONVENTIONAL ELECTRIC POWERED GROUNDWATER IRRIGATIONIN VILLUPURAM DISTRICT OF TAMIL NADU, INDIA

V. Nandhini, R. Venkataraman and S. Ravichandran

Abstract

Solar energy is the major renewable energy source in the world. In the is energy use scenario, solar energyhas occupied second position and it’s share in renewable energy has 27.5 per cent. In India, solar energy isin first position in renewable energy capacity and it’s share in renewable energy has 33.5 per cent. Solar isphotovoltaic is conversion of solar energy into electricity which can be used for solar water pumping. Withthe above background, the present study is attempted to focus on the impact of solar and electric operatedtubewell irrigation in the sample farms. A quota sampling selection procedure and snow ball samplingtechnique were used for this study. A sample size of 45 each of solar and electric operated sample farmersaltogether 90 sample respondents were contacted for the conduct of this research study. Garrett’s rankingtechnique was used for assessing the merits and demerits of solar and electric operated tubewell irrigationas opined by the sample respondents. It was observed that free electricity for motor pumping was theprime most important attribute which influenced the farmers preference for electric energy followed byefficiency in lifting water from higher depths with good discharge rates. The foremost bothering issue inelectric energy use was the limited hours of 3 phase electric power availability and frequent voltagefluctuations. The availability of huge subsidy component in the initial investment and reduction in theenergy bill were the foremost important reasons for the adoption of solar power motor pumps in irrigation.The foremost bothering issue in solar energy use for irrigation was unavailability of battery for power storewhich was expressed as the major drawback in solar energy irrigation pumping. To promote the large scaleadoption of this important renewable energy all the merits of this energy source expressed by the farmersshould be widely propagated among the farming community. The demerits in the use of existing devices ofthis energy source such as battery for storage, efficiency improvements with higher horse power’s shouldbe addressed by gearing up the Research and Development wing to focus on these issues expressed by the farmer stakeholders.