Feasibility of introducing solar-powered irrigation on a representative Arizona farm

Published in 1976

Arizona agriculture is a major consumer of energy. The use of solar power to pump groundwater would free Arizona farmers from reliance on uncertain energy supplies. Using a representative farm model, the economically feasible upper limit for initial investment in solar equipment is derived for alternative pumping situations on a Pinal County farm. A typical value for this figure is $404,000. Solar-powered irrigation systems are estimated to cost about $1.6 million in the representative farm application, four times their justified level to the farm. A surrogate price for solar electricity can be derived from the system cost estimate; this turns out to be 50 mills/kwh in 1976 dollars. The representative farm is currently able to purchase electricity at the low rate of 12 mills/kwh. It is estimated that at best it will take about 40 years for the price of conventional electrical energy to rise enough relative to the general economy to justify the farm paying this price

AZU_TD_BOX276_E9791_1976_502.pdf (2.07 MB)

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