Philippine authorities inaugurated the nation’s largest solar-powered irrigation system, with greater than 1,000 photo voltaic panels and two submersible pumps. The system advantages greater than 200 farmers and is the primary of its form constructed on prime of an irrigation canal, preserving farmland.
The Philippines has inaugurated a solar-powered irrigation system within the province of Isabela, within the northeastern a part of the nation.
The PHP 65.7 million ($1.1 million) undertaking was constructed between July 2023 and February 2024 and has greater than 1,000 photo voltaic panels. It generates 739,200 W of energy for its two submersible pumps, with every pump able to discharging 12,800 gallons (48453 liters) per minute.
The President of the Philippines, Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. stated the undertaking is the biggest solar-powered pump irrigation undertaking within the nation to date and will irrigate 350 hectares of paddy fields, serving to round 237 farmers. Isabela is the biggest producer of corn and the second largest contributor to rice manufacturing within the Philippines.
“If we used to make use of oil-powered machines to pump water from irrigation canals to your fields, now we’re utilizing electrical energy from daylight. Electricity from the solar is free so we will present free irrigation,” stated Marcos Jr. on the inauguration. “Because of the development of this solar-powered pump irrigation undertaking, in your barangay there can be a steady stream of water within the irrigation methods, the vegetation can be properly taken care of, your harvest will enhance, double the product.”
The undertaking is the primary within the Philippines to be constructed on prime of an irrigation canal, which implies that the land cultivated by farmers is not going to lower. Marcos Jr. stated that 152 extra solar-powered pump irrigation tasks are being developed all through the nation, together with 118 tasks managed by the federal government. He added that 82 photo voltaic irrigation tasks have been accomplished and activated since 2023.
Despite its sources, the Philippines faces extreme water shortage. Government estimates made earlier this 12 months present that 40 million Filipinos don’t have entry to potable water. Marcos Jr. subsequently known as for the reorganization of the nation’s water businesses to handle water-related challenges, together with balancing water wants for irrigation, home and industrial use amongst these underserved space.
The Philippines National Irrigation Administration has began rising funding in irrigation tasks to enhance water and power provide in 2020. The affiliation has accepted 15 photo voltaic powered pump irrigation tasks and two small irrigation tasks within the province of Isabela. , which might irrigate one other 251 hectares of farm land and profit 867 farmers, stated Marcos Jr.
In October 2023, the nation’s first canal-top photo voltaic irrigation undertaking was commissioned.
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