Mapping the suitability of solar

energy-based
irrigation pumps in Ethiopia
Background
In recent years, the International Water Management
Institute (IWMI) has worked to improve food security,
nutrition and livelihoods in rural communities in Ethiopia by
increasing the value and effectiveness of agricultural water
management through small-scale irrigation.

Problems
The potential to benefit from small-scale irrigation is
constrained by:
1. Access to the energy sources needed to pump water
2. High fuel costs

Potential solution: solar-powered irrigation pumps

Advantages of solar-powered irrigation pumps

 Inexpensive and effective alternative to electric and fuel-
based pumps
 The technology reduces greenhouse gas emissions
 Methodology for mapping the suitability of
solar irrigation
Steps in suitability mapping:
1 Step (Identification of the variables that are likely to
constrain solar pump-based irrigation)
 protected zones
 forests
 areas with low groundwater storage or inadequate irradiation

2 Step (Examination of five scenarios to assess the

suitability of solar-powered technology for pumping
groundwater and/or surface water)
3 Step (Mapping of the variables in each scenario)
Findings
Depending on the water source and the technical
specifications of the solar pump, the suitable area for solar
pump-based irrigation in Ethiopia ranges from 1.1 million
hectares (Mha) (under Scenario 3) to 6.3 Mha (under
Scenario 1). Combining surface water and groundwater
resources (under Scenario 4b) could increase the suitable
area to 6.8 Mha. The Oromia and Amhara regions have the
largest areas suitable for solar-pump based irrigation (under
all scenarios). Comparing the suitable area under Scenario
4b with current land use indicated that solar pumps could be
suitable for use on 96 Mha (9%) of the irrigated land in
Ethiopia. Furthermore, if compared to current rainfed land
use, solar pumps could provide access to irrigation for 3.7
Mha.
Conclusions
Suitability mapping can support planning and investments to
target areas for up-scaling solar pump-based irrigation, and
additional refinements will only make it more reliable and
relevant in the future. While the suitability mapping reviewed
the potential environmental consequences of solar pump-
based irrigation, it did not include an in-depth environmental
impact assessment. Data and analysis are needed to
incorporate such environmental implications and additional
monitoring is required, for example, on climate variability,
groundwater recharge rates and impacts from upscaling at
landscape scale. Combining the solar pump suitability maps
with soil and water quality information would enable an
assessment of the overall environmental sustainability of
solar pump-based irrigation.