In a bid to meet growing food production and energy needs in low- and middle-income countries, solar-powered groundwater irrigation is rapidly gaining ground.
In a bid to meet growing food production and energy needs in low- and middle-income countries, solar-powered groundwater irrigation is rapidly gaining ground. More than 500,000 solar pumps have been installed in south Asia over the last few years and a major expansion is planned across sub-Saharan Africa. While the technology presents important opportunities to mitigate greenhouse gas emissions, an article published in Science last week suggests that anticipated emissions reductions are complex to calculate and solar pumps are likely to increase groundwater depletion as farmers gain access to cheap, clean energy.
Dustin Garrick, professor in the School of Environment, Resources and Sustainability, co-led the Science article with Dr. Soumya Balasubramanya of the World Bank. Along with an international team, they examined the trend toward solar pumps as a clear opportunity for boosting agricultural yields and alleviating poverty, but the opportunity comes with risks.
“Solar-powered groundwater irrigation is booming and represents a promising technology for alleviating poverty by expanding access to irrigation for poor farmers, but this potential comes with risks of depleting groundwater and drying up wells over the longer term. It is crucial for communities and governments to invest in measuring and managing these risks,” Garrick says.
Read more at: University of Waterloo
