The Effect of Pump Type in Pressurized Irrigation Systems on Energy Consumption and Greenhouse Gas Emissions

Saligheh, Negin; Khaledian, Mohammadreza; Asadi, Safoora

doi:10.22034/arwe.2025.2073017.1045

The Effect of Pump Type in Pressurized Irrigation Systems on Energy Consumption and Greenhouse Gas Emissions

Articles in Press

Document Type : Review

Authors

Negin Saligheh ¹

Mohammadreza Khaledian ²

Safoora Asadi ³

¹ MSc student, Water Engineering Department, University of Guilan

² Associate Professor, Department of Water Engineering, Faculty of Agricultural Sciences, University of Guilan

³ Associate Professor, Department of Soil Science, Faculty of Agricultural Sciences, University of Guilan,

10.22034/arwe.2025.2073017.1045

Abstract

The rapid population growth and climate change have placed increasing pressure on water and energy resources, highlighting the need for sustainable solutions in agriculture. This review study aims to analyze energy consumption in pressurized irrigation systems and introduce modern technologies that reduce energy use and greenhouse gas emissions. Studies show that water pumping using diesel and electric pumps accounts for a significant share of energy consumption and carbon dioxide emissions. The use of photovoltaic solar systems, including hybrid solar-diesel systems and battery-equipped pumps, is proposed as a suitable alternate for conventional pumps, offering notable economic, environmental, and operational benefits. Additionally, variable speed drive (VSD) pump technology is introduced as an effective strategy for optimizing energy consumption, reducing unnecessary pressure, and lowering operational costs. The findings indicate that the combined use of these technologies can play an important role in reducing reliance on fossil fuels, improving irrigation system efficiency, and addressing environmental crises. However, overcoming challenges such as high initial investment costs and the need for governmental support remains essential.

Keywords

Energy Efficiency in Agriculture

Hybrid Solar–Diesel System

Solar Pump

Variable-Speed Pump (VSP)

Subjects