Modelling a 30kw Standalone Solar Powered Irrigation System

The Bugesera irrigation; Rwanda utilizes the overhead irrigation system powered from national power grid to date. However, the region has an average solar energy irradiance of 5.15kWh/m2/day that shows PV power potential for a more efficient drip irrigation system. This study proposes an alternative highly economical, low price solar powered drip irrigation system incorporating a boost converter used to get an appropriate resolution of PWM wave forms, an inverter and an MPPT based on incremental conductance algorithm that pushes the PV panel to obtain the high peak power. The results show that the system can deliver 30kW to the solar pump for providing irrigation water for maize at the rate of 413m3 for 3hours per day for drip and overhead irrigation of 6-9 Ha and 3-5 Ha respectively. This shows that the solar powered drip irrigation method is feasible for Bugesera irrigation scheme.