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CHAIBASA ENGINEERING COLLEGE

WEST SINGHBHUM, JHARKHAND-833215

DEPERTMENT OF ELECTRICAL ENGINEERING

SMART IRRIGATION SYSTEM

SUBMITED BY: SUBMITED TO:

AKHILESH YADAV MR. DEBABRATA HAZARA

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Group: - VI

SMART IRRIGATION SYSTEM

ELECTRICAL ENGINEERING

Name Of Students: -

i. AKHILESH YADAV
ii. GHULAM SARWAR KHAN
iii. KARAN TAMSOY
iv. DEEPAK ORAON
v. AMIT BECK
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ABSTRACT:

The increasing demand for energy, the constant decline in existing sources of
fossil fuels and the growing alarm regarding environment pollution, have
pushed mankindto discover new renewable energy resources such as solar, wind
energy, etc. to produce electrical energy.

Cost effective solar power can be the answer for all our energy needs. Solar
powered smart irrigation systems are the answer to the Indian farmer. This
system consists of solar powered water pump along with an automatic water flow
control using amoisture sensor. It is the proposed solution for the present energy
crisis for the Indian farmers.

This system conserves electricity by reducing the usage of grid power and
conserves water by reducing water losses.
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ACKNOWLEDGEMENT

I would like to express my deep gratitude to my project guide Prof.

Debabrata hazara whohas always been a source of inspiration and firm
support for carrying out the project.
I express my gratitude to Prof. Debabrata hazara, Assistant Professor and
Head of the department of Electrical Engineering for his invaluable
suggestion and constant support all through the thesis work. I would also
like to convey my sincerest gratitude and appreciation to all other faculty
members and the stuff of Department of Electrical Engineering, Chaibasa,
who conferred their great effort and guidance at appropriate times without
it, would have been very difficult on my project work.
This is the appropriate time to express my gratitude to all our friends and best
wishes who have been a constant source of encouragement and moral
support during the entireperiod of my project.

Above all, I thank and pray to the Almighty for having given us enough
strength and goodhealth to undertake this project.

Submitted By:

………………………………… Dated:
AKHILESH YADAV
B. Tech (Electrical Engineering)
Department of Electrical Engineering
Chaibasa Engineering College
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ORGANIZATION OF THESIS

The thesis is organized into 6 chapters including the chapter of introduction.

Each chapter is different from other and is described along with the necessary
theory requiredto comprehend it.

Chapter 1 The first one is being to introduction, introduction focusing in the

backgroundof the research and motivation for the project. The chapter finishes
with a literature review of the thesis.

Chapter 2 This chapter overviews the theories of Solar Panel. The chapter start with
introducing about solar panel theory and construction. Performance and efficiency
of solar panel is also discussed in this chapter.

Chapter 3: Details of various Solar Park in India has been discussed in this chapter.
Chapter 4 consist of a modelling of Smart Irrigation System using Arduino Uno. It
about consists of model description of Smart Irrigation System. The Working
Principle and implementation ideas is also described in this chapter.

Chapter 5 Consists of the cost analysis for the setup in real world. Use of excess
energy has been discussed in this chapter.

Chapter 6 The final conclusion is presented based on the theoretical and

experimental results performed.

Chapter 3: Details of various Solar Park in India has been discussed in this chapter.

Chapter 4 consist of a modelling of Smart Irrigation System using Arduino Uno. It

about consists of model description of Smart Irrigation System. The Working
Principle and implementation ideas is also described in this chapter.

Chapter 5 Consists of the cost analysis for the setup in real world. Use of excess
energy has been discussed in this chapter.

Chapter 6 The final conclusion is presented based on the theoretical and

experimental results performed.
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CONTENTS
ACKNOWLEDGEMENT i

ABSTRACT ii

ORGANIZATION OF THESIS iii

CHAPTER I
1.Introduction 1
1.1 General 2
1.2 Aim of the Project 3
1.3 Literature Review 4
CHAPTER II 5-20

2.Solar panel 5
2.1General Principle 6
2.2 History 7
2.3 Theory and Construction 8
2.4 Cell Connection Techniques 9
2.5 Technology 10-12
2.5.1 Thin film 10
2.5.2 Mounting 11
2.5.3 Tracking 12
2.6 Power curve 13
2.7 Module Interconnection 13-14
2.8 Inverters 14
2.9 Efficiency 15
2.10 Performance and Degradation 16-18
2.10.1 Influence of temperature 17
2.10.2 Degradation 17-18
2.11Maintainance 18
2.12 Price 19
2.13 Applications 20
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21-32
CHAPTER III
3.Solar Power in India 21
3.1Introduction 22-23
3.2 History 23
3.3 Government Support 23
3.4 Installations by Region 24
3.4.1Andhra Pradesh 25
3.4.2 Delhi 25
3.4.3 Gujarat 25-26
3.4.4 Haryana 27
3.4.5 Karnataka 27
3.4.6 Kerala 27
3.4.7 Ladakh 27
3.4.8 Madhya Pradesh 28
3.4.9 Maharashtra 28
3.4.10 Rajasthan 29
3.4.11 Tamil nandu 29
3.4.12 Telangana 29
3.5 Electricity Generation 30
3.6 Installation by Application 31
3.7 Major Photovoltaic Power stations 32
33-40
CHAPTER IV
4. Smart Irrigation System using Arduino Uno (Model) 33
4.1Introduction 34
4.2 Background 34
4.3 Description 35-36
4.4 Scope of the project 37
4.5 Objectives 37
4.6 Methodology 38-40
4.6.1 Working Principle 38
4.6.2 Block Diagram 38
4.6.3 Algorithm 39
4.6.4 Flowchart 39
4.6.5 Connection Diagram 40
4.6.6 Implementation 40
CHAPTER V 41-42
5. Cost Analysis 42
CHAPTER VI 43-44
6. Conclusion 44
CHAPTER VII 45-46
7. Reference 46
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CHAPTER I

INTRODUCTION

❖ General
❖ Aim of the project
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INTRODUCTION
1.1 GENERAL:

Solar energy is the most abundant source of energy in the world. Solar power isnot only
an answer to today ‘s energy crisis but also an environmentally friendlyform of energy.
Photovoltaic generation is an efficient approach for using solarenergy. Solar panels (an array
of photovoltaic cells) are nowadays extensively usedfor running streetlights, for powering
water heaters and to meet domestic loads.

The cost of solar panels has been constantly decreasing which encourages their usagein
various sectors. One of the applications of this technology is used in irrigationsystems for
farming. Solar powered irrigation system can be a suitable alternativefor farmers in the
present state of energy crisis in India. This is a green way forenergy production which
provides free energy once an initial investment is made.

In this paper we propose an automatic irrigation system using solar power whichdrives
water pumps to pump water from bore well to a tank and the outlet valve oftank is
automatically regulated using controller and moisture sensor to control theflow rate of water
from the tank to the irrigation field which optimizes the use ofwater.

The paper is divided into 6 sections discussing the literature survey,proposed solution,
implementation, cost analysis and results and conclusion,references.
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1.2 AIM OF THE PROJECT:

The aim of this project is to present a dynamic model of a smart irrigation system
developed using Arduino uno that can be used to study the transient behavior of the
motor drive.

In this proposed system we utilize the solar energy from solar panels to automatically
pump water from bore well directly into a ground level storage tank depending on the
intensity of sunlight. While conventional methods include pumping of water from bore
well into a well and from this well onto field using another pump, our system uses onlya
single stage energy consumption wherein the water is pumped into a ground level tank
from which a simple valve mechanism controls the flow of water into the field.

This saves substantial amounts of energy and efficient use of renewable energy. A valve
is controlled using an intelligent algorithm in which it regulates the flow of water into
thefield depending upon the moisture requirement of the land. In this system we use a
soilmoisture sensor that detects the amount of moisture present in the soil and depending
upon the requirement of level of moisture content required for the crop the water flow is
regulated thus, conserving the water by avoiding over flooding of crops.
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1.2 LITARATURE REVIEW:

The topic smart irrigation systems using solar energy has been looked upon by many
researchers all around the globe.

According to the survey conducted by the Bureau of Electrical Energy in India in 2011
there are around 18 million agricultural pump sets and around 0.5 million new
connections per year is installed with average capacity 5HP. Total annual consumption
in the agriculture sector is 131.96 billion KWh (19% of total electricity consumption).

As cited in paper [1] solar powered smart irrigation technique is the future for the farmers
and a solution for energy crisis. So, for the proposed solar powered system we are using
techniques analyzed in paper [2] and [4] and modified. Sine PWM technique has been
used for inverter operation for minimum harmonics as given in paper [3] which further
increases the efficiency of the system. The rating of the system was calculated
corresponding to the pump specifications referring to paper [5].

Year Research Paper Title Author

2012 Automated Irrigation System Using Jia Uddin

Solar Power S.M. Taslim Reza
International Islamic University,
Kumira, Bangladesh
2013 Android based Solar Powered Ashutosh Gupta
Automatic Irrigation System Varun Krishna
Amity University, Noida, India

2014 Automatic Monitoring And J.Krishna Chaitanya

Controlling Of Irrigation System Y.Nanda Kishore
Using Wireless Sensor Networks Vardhaman College of Engineering
and GSM Hyderabad, India

2017 Smart Automated Drip Irrigation Vinaya Kumar S R

System Sachin Prabhu
SMVITM Bantakal Udupi, India

2018 Wireless solar Powered Automatic N. Pughazendi

Drip Irrigation System M.Mutukumaravel
Panimalar Engineering College,
Chennai, INDIA
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CHAPTER II

SOLAR PANEL
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SOLAR PANEL
2.1 GENERAL PRINCIPAL

A solar panel is a device that converts sunlight into electricity by using photovoltaic (PV) cells.
PV cells are made of materials that generate electrons when exposed to light. The electrons flow
through a circuit and produce direct current (DC) electricity, which can be used to power various
devices or stored in batteries. Solar panels are also known as solar cell panels, solar electric
panels, or PV modules.

Solar panels are usually arranged in groups called arrays or systems. A photovoltaic system
consists of one or more solar panels, a inverter that converts DC electricity to alternate current(AC)
electricity, and sometimes other components such as controllers, meters, and trackers. A
photovoltaic system can be used to provide electricity for off-grid applications, such as remote
homes or cabins, or to feed electricity back into the grid and earn credits or payments from the
utility company. This is called a grid-connected photovoltaic system.

Some advantages of solar panels are that they use a renewable and clean source of energy, reduce
greenhouse gas emissions, and lower electricity bills. Some disadvantages are that they depend on
the availability and intensity of sunlight, require maintenance and cleaning, and have high initial
costs. Solar panels are widely used for residential, commercial, and industrial purposes, as well as
for space and transportation applications.

Fig.2.1 Solar array mounted on a rooftop.

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2.2 HISTORY

In 1839, the ability of some materials to create an electrical charge from light exposure was first
observed by the French physicist Edmond Becquerel. Though these initial solar panels were too
inefficient for even simple electric devices, they were used as an instrument to measure light.

The observation by Becquerel was not replicated again until 1873, when the English electrical
engineer Willoughby Smith discovered that the charge could be caused by light hitting selenium.
After this discovery, William Grylls Adams and Richard Evans Day published "The action of
light on selenium" in 1876, describing the experiment they used to replicate Smith's results.

In 1881, the American inventor Charles Fritts created the first commercial solar panel, which
wasreported by Fritts as "continuous, constant and of considerable force not only by exposure
to sunlight but also to dim, diffused daylight. "However, these solar panels were very inefficient,
especially compared to coal-fired power plants.

In 1939, Russell Ohl created the solar cell design that is used in many modern solar panels. He
patented his design in 1941. In 1954, this design was first used by Bell Labs to create the first
commercially viable silicon solar cell.
Solar panel installers saw significant growth between 2008 and 2013. Due to that growth many
installers had projects that were not "ideal" solar roof tops to work with and had to find solutions
toshaded roofs and orientation difficulties. This challenge was initially addressed by the re-
popularization of inverters and later the invention of power optimizers.

Solar panel manufacturers partnered with micro-inverter companies to create AC modules and
power optimizer companies partnered with module manufacturers to create smart modules.In
2013 many solar panel manufacturers announced and began shipping their smart module
solutions.
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2.3 THEORY AND CONSTRUCTION

Photovoltaic modules consist of many solar cells and use light energy (photons) fromthe Sun to
generate electricity through the effect. Most modules use wafer-based crystalline silicon cells
or thin-film cells. The structural (load carrying) member of a module can be either the top
layer or the back layer. Cells must be protected from mechanical damage and moisture. Most
modules are rigid, but semi-flexible ones based on thin-film cells are also available.

The cells are usually connected electrically in series, one to another to the desired voltage, and
then in parallel to increase current. The power (in watts) of the module is the mathematical
product of the voltage(in volts) and the current (in amperes), and depends both on the amount
of light and on the electrical load connected to the module.

The manufacturing specifications on solar panels are obtained under standard conditions,
whichare usually not the true operating conditions the solar panels are exposed to on the
installation site.[10]

A PV junction box is attached to the back of the solar panel and functions as its output interface.
External connections for most photovoltaic modules use MC4 connectors to facilitate easy
weatherproof connections to the rest of the system. A USB power interface can also be used.[11]
Solar panels also use metal frames consisting of racking components, brackets, reflector shapes,
and troughs to better support the panel structure.

Fig.2.2 From a solar cell to a PV system

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2.4 CELL CONNECTION TECHNIQUES

In solar modules, the cells themselves need to be connected to form the module, with front
electrodes blocking the solar cell front optical surface area slightly. To maximize frontal surface
area available for sunlight and improve solar cell efficiency, manufacturers use varying rear
electrode solar cell connection techniques:

Passivated emitter rear contact (PERC) adds a polymer film to capture light.
Tunnel oxide passivated contact (Topcon) adds an oxidation layer to the PERC film to
capturelighter.
Interdigitated back contact (IBC)

Arrays of PV modules
A single solar module can produce only a limited amount of power; most installations contain
multiple modules adding their voltages or currents. A photovoltaic system typically includes an
array of photovoltaic modules, an inverter, a battery pack for energy storage, a charge controller,
interconnection wiring, circuit breakers, fuses, disconnect switches, voltage meters, and
optionallya solar tracking mechanism. Equipment is carefully selected to optimize output, and
energy storage, reduce power loss during power transmission, and convert from direct current
to alternating current.
Smart solar modules
Smart modules are different from traditional solar panels because the power electronics
embeddedin the module offers enhanced functionality such as panel-level maximum power point
tracking, monitoring, and enhanced safety. Power electronics attached to the frame of a solar module,
or connected to the photovoltaic circuit through a connector, are not properly considered smart
modules.
Several companies have begun incorporating into each PV module various embedded power
electronics such as:
Maximum power point tracking (|MPPT) power optimizers, a DC-to-DC converter
technology developed to maximize the power harvest from solar photovoltaic systems by
compensating for shading effects, wherein a shadow falling on a section of a module
causes the electrical output of one or more strings of cells in the module to fall to near
zero, but nothaving the output of the entire module fall to zero.[15]
Solar performance monitors for data and fault detection

Fig.2.3 Smart module

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2.5 TECHNOLOGY
Most solar modules are currently produced from crystalline silicon (c-Si) solar cells made of
polycrystalline or monocrystalline silicon. In 2013, crystalline silicon accounted for more than
90% of worldwide PV production, while the rest of the overall market is made up of thin-film
technologies using cadmium telluride (CdTe), copper indium gallium selenide (CIGS) and
amorphous silicon (a-Si).[16]

Emerging, third-generation solar technologies use advanced thin-film cells. They produce a
relatively high- efficiency conversion for a lower cost compared with other solar technologies.
Also, high-cost, high-efficiency, and close-packed rectangular multi-junction (MJ) cells are
usually used in solar panels on spacecraft, as they offer the highest ratio of generated power per
kilogram lifted into space. MJ-cells are compound semiconductors and made of gallium arsenide
(GaAs) and other semiconductor materials. Another emerging PV technology using MJ- cells is
concentrator photovoltaics (CPV).

Fig.2.4

2.5.1 Thin film

In rigid thin-film modules, the cell and the module are manufactured on the same production
line.The cell is created on a glass substrate or superstrate, and the electrical connections are
created in situ, a so-called "monolithic integration." The substrate or superstrate is laminated
with an encapsulant to a front or back sheet, usually another sheet of glass. The main cell
technologies in this category are CdTe, a-Si, a-Si+uc-Si tandem, and CIGS. Amorphous silicon
has a sunlight conversion rate of 6–12%.

Flexible thin film cells and modules are created on the same production line by depositing the
photoactive layer and other necessary layers on a flexible substrate. If the substrate is an
insulator (e.g. polyester or polyimide film) then monolithic integration can be used. If it is a
conductor, then another technique for electrical connection must be used. The cells are
assembled into modules by laminating them to a transparent colourless fluoropolymer on the
front side, typicallyethylene tetrafluoroethylene (ETFE) or fluorinated ethylene propylene (FEP),
and a polymer suitable for bonding to the final substrate on the other side.
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2.5.2 Mounting

(a) Ground

Large utility-scale solar power plants usually use ground-mounted photovoltaic systems. Their
solar modules are held in place by racks or frames that are attached to ground-based mounting
supports. Ground based mounting supports include:

▪ Pole mounts, which are driven directly into the ground or embedded in concreate.
▪ Foundation mounts, such as the concrete slabs or poured footing.
▪ Ballasted footing mounts, such as concrete or steel bases that use weight to secure the
solar module system in position and do not require ground penetration. This type of
mounting systems well suited for sites where excavations is not possible such as capped
landfills and simplifies decommissioning or relocation of solar module systems.

(b) Roof

Roof-mounted solar power systems consist of solar modules held in place by racks or
framesattached to roof-based mounting supports. Roof- based mounting supports include:
Rail mounts, which are attached directly to the roof structure and may use additional rails
forattaching the module racking or frames.
Ballasted footing mounts, such as concrete or steel bases that use weight to secure the
panelsystem in position and do not require through penetration. This mounting method
allows fordecommissioning or relocation of solar panel systems with no adverse effect
on the roof structure.

All wiring connecting adjacent solar modules to the energy harvesting equipment must
be installed according to local electrical codes and should be run in a conduit appropriate
for the climate conditions.
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2.5.3 Tracking
Solar trackers increase the energy produced per module at the cost of mechanical
complexity and increased need for maintenance. They sense the direction of the Sun and
tilt or rotate the modules as needed for maximum exposure to the light.

Alternatively, fixed racks can hold modules stationary throughout the day at a given tilt
(zenith angle) and facing a given direction (azimuth angle). Tilt angles equivalent to an
installation's latitude are common. Some systems may also adjust the tilt angle based on the
time of year.

On the other hand, east- and west-facing arrays (covering an east–west facing roof, for
example) are commonly deployed. Even though such installations will not produce the
maximum possible average power from the individual solar panels, the cost of the panels is
now usually cheaper than the tracking mechanism and they can provided more economically
valuable power during morning and evening peak demands than north or south facing systems.

(a) Concentrator

Some special solar PV modules include concentrators in which light is focused by lenses or
mirrors onto smaller cells. This enables the use of cells with a high cost per unit area (such as
gallium arsenide) in a cost-effective way. Concentrating the sunlight can also raise the efficiency
to around 45%.

(b) Light capture

The amount of light absorbed by a solar cell depends on the angle of incidence of whatever
directsunlight hits it. This is partly because the amount falling on the panel is proportional to
the cosine of the angle of incidence, and partly because at high angle of incidence lighter is
reflected. To maximize total energy output, modules are often oriented to face south (in the
Northern Hemisphere) or north (in the Southern Hemisphere) and tilted to allow for the latitude.
Solar tracking can be used to keep the angle of incidence small (see next section).

Solar panels are often coated with an anti-reflective coating, which is one or more thin layers of
substances with destructive interference in the reflected light, diminishing the amount.
Photovoltaic manufacturers have been working to decrease reflectance with improved anti-
reflective coatings or with textured glass.
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2.6 POWER CURVE

In general, with solar panels, if not enough current is taken from PVs, then power isn't
maximized. If too much current is taken, then the voltage collapses. The optimum current draw
depends on the amount of sunlight striking the panel. Solar panel capacity is specified by the
MPP (maximum power point) value of sunlight.
The power curve has a maximum denoted as Pump where the solar cell should be operated to give
the maximum power output. It is also denoted as Pmax or maximum power point (MPP) and
occursat a voltage of Vamp and a current of Imp.

Fig.2.7 A typical voltage/current curve

2.7 MODULE INTERCONNECTION

Module electrical connections are made with conducting wires that take the current off the
modules and are sized according to the current rating and fault conditions.

Panels are typically connected in series of one or more panels to form strings to achieve a desired
output voltage, and strings can be connected in parallel to provide the desired current capability
(amperes) of the PV system.

Blocking and bypass diodes may be incorporated within the module or used externally to deal
with partial array shading, in order to maximize output. For series connections, bypass diodes
are placed in parallel with modules to allow current to bypass shaded modules which would
otherwise severely limit the current.

For parallel connections, a blocking diode may be placed in series with each module's string to
prevent current flowing backwards through shaded strings thus short-circuiting other strings.

Fig.2.8 A Module connection example

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2.8 INVERTERS

Solar inverters convert the DC power provided by panels to AC power.

MPP (Maximum power point) of the solar panel consists of MPP voltage (Vamp) and MPP current
(Imp). Performing maximum power point tracking (MPPT), a solar inverter samples the output
(I- V curve) from the solar cell and applies the proper electrical load to obtain maximum power.

Solar panels are wired to inverters in parallel or series (a 'string'). In string connections, the
voltagesof the modules are added, but the current is determined by the lowest performing panel.
This is known asthe "Christmas light effect". In parallel connections the voltages will be the same,
but the currents add. Arrays are connected to meet the voltage requirements of the inverters and
to not greatly exceed the current limits.

Micro-inverters work independently to enable each panel to contribute its maximum possible
output for a given amount of sunlight but can be more expensive.

2.9 EFFICIENCY
Each module is rated by its DC output power under standard test conditions (STC) and hence
the on- f i e l d output power might vary. Power typically ranges from 100 to 365 Watts
(W). Theefficiency of a module determines the area of a module given the same rated output –
an 8% efficient 230 W module will have twice the area of a 16% efficient 230 W module. Some
commercially available solar modules exceed 24% efficiency. Currently, the best achieved
sunlight conversion rate (solar module efficiency) is around 21.5% in new commercial products
typically lower than the efficiencies of their cells in isolation. The most efficient mass-produced
solar modules have power density values of up to 175 W/m2 (16.22 W/ft2).

The current versus voltage curve of a module provides useful information about its electrical
performance. Manufacturing processes often cause differences in the electrical parameters of
different modules photovoltaic, even in cells of the same type. Therefore, only the experimental
measurement of the I–V curve allows us to accurately establish the electrical parameters of a
photovoltaic device. This measurement provides highly relevant information for the design,
installation and maintenance of photovoltaic systems. Generally, the electrical parameters of
photovoltaic modules are measured by indoor tests. However, outdoor testing has important
advantages such as no expensive artificial light source required, no sample size limitation, and
more homogeneous sample illumination.

Scientists from Spectro lab, a subsidiary of Boeing, have reported development of multi-junction
cells with an efficiency of more than 40%, a new world record for solar photovoltaic cells. The
Spectro lab scientists also predict that concentrator solar cells could achieve efficiencies of more
than 45% or even 50% in the future, with theoretical efficiencies being about 58% in cells with more
than three junctions.
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Capacity factor of solar panels is limited primarily by geographic latitude and varies
significantlydepending on cloud cover, dust, day length and other factors. In the United Kingdom,
seasonal capacity factor ranges from 2% (December) to 20% (July), with average annual
capacity factor of 10–11%, while in Spain the value reaches 18%. Globally, capacity factor for
utility-scale PV farms was 16.1% in 2019.
Overheating is the most important factor for the efficiency of the solar panel.

Radiation-dependent efficiency
Depending on construction, photovoltaic modules can produce electricity from a range of
frequencies of light, but usually cannot cover the entire solar radiation range (specifically,
ultraviolet, infrared and low or diffused light). Hence, much of the incident sunlight energy is
wasted by solar modules, and they can give far higher efficiencies if illuminated with
monochromatic light. Therefore, another design concept is to split the light into six to eight
different wavelength ranges that will produce a different color of light and direct the beams onto
different cells tuned to those ranges. This has been projected to be capable of raising efficiency
by 50%.

2.10 PERFORMANCE AND DEGRADATION

Module performance is generally rated under standard test conditions(STC): irradiance of
1,000 W/m2, solar spectrum of AM 1.5 and module temperature at 25 °C. The actual
voltage and current output of the module changes as lighting, temperature and load
conditions change, so there is never one specific voltage at which the module operates.
Performance varies depending on geographic location, time of day, the day of the year,
amount of solar irradiance, direction and tilt of modules, cloud cover, shading, soiling,
state of charge, and temperature. Performance of a module or panel can be measured at
different time intervals witha DC clamp meter or shunt and logged, graphed, or charted
with a chart recorder or data logger.

For optimum performance, a solar panel needs to be made of similar modules oriented in
thesame direction perpendicular to direct sunlight. Bypass diodes are used to circumvent broken
or shaded panels and optimize output. These bypass diodes are usually placed along groups of
solar cells to create a continuous flow.

Electrical characteristics include nominal power (PMAX, measured in W), open-circuit voltage
(VOC), short- circuit current (ISC, measured in amperes), maximum power voltage (VMPP),
maximum power current (IMPP), peak power, (watt-peak, Wp), and module efficiency (%).
Open-circuit voltage or VOC is the maximum voltage the module can produce when not
connected to an electrical circuit or system. VOC can be measured with a voltmeter directly on
anilluminated module’s terminals or on its disconnected cable.
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2.10.1 Influence of temperature

The performance of a photovoltaic (PV) module depends on the environmental conditions,

mainly on the global incident irradiance G in the plane of the module. However, the temperature T
of the p–n junction also influences the main electrical parameters: the short circuit current ISC, the
open circuit voltage Viand the maximum power Pmax. In general, it is known that VOC shows a
significant inverse correlation with T, while for ISC this correlation is direct, but weaker, so that this
increase does not compensate for the decrease in VOC. Therefore, Pmax decreases when T
increases. This correlation between the power output of a solar cell and the working temperature of
its junction depends on the semiconductor material and is due to the influence of T on the
concentration, lifetime, and mobility of the intrinsic carriers, i.e., electrons and gaps. inside the
photovoltaic cell.

Temperature sensitivity is usually described by temperature coefficients, each of which

expresses the derivative of the parameter to which it refers with respect to the junction
temperature. The values of these parameters can be found in any data sheet of the photovoltaic
module; are the following:

- β: VOC variation coefficient with respect to T, given by ∂VOC/∂T.

- α: Coefficient of variation of ISC with respect to T, given by ∂ISC/∂T.

- δ: Coefficient of variation of Pmax with respect to T, given by ∂Pmax/∂T.

2.10.2 Degradation
The ability of solar modules to withstand damage by rain, hail, heavy snow load, and cycles of
heat and cold varies by manufacturer, although most solar panels on the U.S. market are UL
listed, meaning they have gone through testing to withstand hail.

Potential-induced degradation (also called PID) is a potential-induced performance

degradationin crystalline photovoltaic modules, caused by so-called stray currents. This effect
may cause power loss of up to 30%.

Advancements in photovoltaic technologies have brought about the process of "doping" the
silicon substrate to lower the activation energy thereby making the panel more efficient in
converting photons to retrievable electrons.

Chemicals such as boron (p-type) are applied into the semiconductor crystal in order to create
donor and acceptor energy levels substantially closer to the valence and conductor bands. In
doingso, the addition of boron impurity allows the activation energy to decrease twenty-fold
from 1.12 eV to 0.05 eV.
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Since the potential difference (EB) is so low, the boron can thermally ionize at room
temperatures. This allows for free energy carriers in the conduction and valence bands thereby
allowing greater conversion of photons to electrons.

2.11 MAINTENANCE
Solar panel conversion efficiency, typically in the 20% range, is reduced by the accumulation
of dust, grime, pollen, and other particulates on the solar panels, collectively referred to as
soiling. "A dirty solar panel can reduce its power capabilities by up to 30% in high dust/pollen
or desert areas", says Seamus Curran, associate professor of physics at the University of Houston
and director of the Institute for Nano Energy, which specializes in the design, engineering, and
assembly of nanostructures. The average soiling loss in the world in 2018 is estimated to be at
least 3% – 4%.

Paying to have solar panels cleaned is a good investment in many regions, as of 2019. However,
in some regions, cleaning is not cost-effective. In California as of 2013 soiling-inducedfinancial
losses were rarely enough to warrant the cost of washing the panels. On average, panels in
California lost a little less than 0.05% of their overall efficiency per day.

There are also occupational hazards with solar panel installation and maintenance. A 2015–2018
study in the UK investigated 80 PV-related incidents of fire, with over 20 "serious fires" directly
caused by PV installation, including 37 domestic buildings and 6 solar farms. In 1⁄3 of the
incidents a root cause was not established and in a majority of others was caused by poor
installation, faulty product or design issues. The most frequent single element causing fires was
theDC isolators.

A 2021 study by kWh Analytics determined median annual degradation of PV systems at 1.09%
for residential and 0.8% for non-residential ones, almost twice that previously assumed. A 2021
module reliability study found an increasing trend in solar module failure rates with 30%
of manufacturers experiencing safety failures related to junction boxes (growth from 20%) and
26% bill-of- materials failures (growth from 20%).

Cleaning methods for solar panels can be divided into 5 groups: manual tools, mechanized tools
(such as tractor mounted brushes), installed hydraulic systems (such as sprinklers), installed
robotic systems, and deployable robots. Manual cleaning tools are by far the most prevalent
method of cleaning, most likely because of the low purchase cost. However, in a Saudi Arabian
study done in 2014, it was found that "installed robotic systems, mechanized systems, and
installed hydraulic systems are likely the three most promising technologies for use in cleaning
solar panels".
 25

2.12 PRICE
The price of solar electrical power has continued to fall so that in many countries it has become
cheaper than fossil fuel electricity from the electricity grid since 2012, a phenomenon known as
grid parity.

Average pricing information divides in three pricing categories: those buying small quantities
(modules of all sizes in the kilowatt range annually), mid-range buyers (typically up to 10 MWp
annually), and large quantity buyers (self-explanatory—and with access to the lowest prices).
Overthe long term there is clearly a systematic reduction in the price of cells and modules.

For example, in 2012 it was estimated that the quantity cost per watt was about US$0.60, which
was 250 times lower than the cost in 1970 of US$150. A 2015 study shows price/kWh dropping
by 10% per year since 1980, and predicts that solar could contribute 20% of total electricity
consumption by 2030, whereas the International Energy Agency predicts 16% by 2050.

Real-world energy production costs depend a great deal on local weather conditions. In a cloudy
country such as the United Kingdom, the cost per produced kWh is higher than in sunnier
countrieslike Spain.
Following to RMI, Balance-of-System (BoS)elements, this is, non-module cost of non-
microinverter solar modules (as wiring, converters, racking systems and various
components)make up about half of the total costs of installations.
For merchant solar power stations, where the electricity is being sold into the electricity
transmission network, the cost of solar energy will need to match the wholesale electricity price.
This point is sometimes called 'wholesale grid parity' or 'busbar parity'.

2.13 APPLICATIONS

There are many practical applications for the use of solar panels or photovoltaics. It can first be
used in agriculture as a power source for irrigation. In health care solar panels can be used to
refrigerate medical supplies. It can also be used for infrastructure. PV modules are used in
photovoltaic systems and include a large variety of electric devices:

• Solar panels
• Photovoltaic power
• Stations Rooftop
• Solar PV system
• Standalone PV system
• Solar hybrid power systems
• Concentrated photovoltaics
• Floating solar; water-borne solar panels Solar planes
• Solar-powered water purification Solar-pumpedlasers
• Solar vehicles
 26

CHAPTER III

SOLAR POWER IN INDIA

 27

SOLAR POWER IN INDIA

3.1 INTRODUCTION:
Solar power is a fast-developing industry in India.The country's solar installed capacity was
66.78 GWAC as of 31 March 2023.Solar power generation in India ranks fourth globally in 2021.

In FY2023-24, India is planning to issue 40 GW tenders for solar and hybrid projects. India has
established nearly 42 solar parks to make land available to the promoters of solar plants.

During 2010–19, the foreign capital invested in India on Solar power projects was nearly 20.7
billion US$.
The International Solar Alliance (ISA), proposed by India as a founder member, is headquartered
in India. India has also put forward the concept of "One Sun One World One Grid" and "World
Solar Bank" to harness abundant solar power on a global scale.

With about 300 clear and sunny days in a year, the calculated solar energy incidence on India's
land area is about 5,000 trillion kilowatt-hours (kWh) per year (or 5 EWh/yr.).The solar energy
available in a single year exceeds the possible energy output of all of the fossil fuel energy reserves
in India. The daily average solar-power-plant generation capacity in India is 0.30 kWh per m2 of
used land area, equivalent to 1,400– 1,800 peak (rated) capacity operating hours in a year with
available, commercially-proven technology.

Fig.3.1 Photovoltaic Electricity Potential of India.

 28

3.2 HISTORY

The Indian Government had an initial target of 20 GW capacity for 2022, which was achieved
four years ahead of schedule. In 2015 the target was raised to 100 GW of solar capacity (including
40 GW from rooftop solar) by 2022, targeting an investment of US$100 billion. The target was
widely missed by a 40,000 MW shortfall due to poor performance in the rooftop sector.

Rooftop solar power accounts for 2.1 GW in 2018, of which 70% is industrial or commercial. In
addition to its large-scale grid-connected solar photovoltaic (PV) initiative, India is developing
off-grid solar power for local energy needs.

Solar products have increasingly helped to meet rural needs; by the end of 2015 just under one
million solar lanterns were sold in the country, reducing the need for kerosene.That year, 118,700
solar home lighting systems were installed and 46,655 solar street lighting installations were
provided under a national program; just over 1.4 million (1.4 million) solar cookers were
distributed in India.

. 3.3 GOVERNMENT SUPPORT

The Indian government announced an allocation of ₹10 billion (US$130 million) for the National
Solar Mission and a clean-energy fund for the 2010–11 fiscal year, an increase of ₹3.8 billion
(US$48 million) from the previous budget. The budget encouraged private solar companies by
reducing the import duty on solar panels by five per cent. This is expected to reduce the cost of a
rooftop solar-panel installation by 15 to 20 per cent.
 29

3.4 INSTALLATIONS BY REGION

31 Dec 31 March 31 March 31 March 31 March
State 2016 2017 2019 2021 2023
Rajasthan 1,317.64 1,812.93 3,226.79 5,732.58 17,055.70
Punjab 545.43 793.95 905.62 959.50 1,167.26

Uttar Pradesh 239.26 336.73 960.10 1,712.50 2,515.22

Uttarakhand 45.10 233.49 306.75 368.41 575.53

Haryana 53.27 81.40 224.52 407.83 1,029.16

Delhi 38.78 40.27 126.89 192.97 218.26
Jammu & Kashmir +
Ladakh 1 1.36 14.83 20.73 49.44
Chandigarh – 17.32 34.71 45.16 58.69
Himachal Pradesh 0.33 0.73 22.68 42.73 87.49
Gujarat 1,158.5 1,249.37 2,440.13 4,430.82 9,254.57

Maharashtra 430.46 452.37 1,633.54 2,289.97 4,722.90

Chhattisgarh – 128.86 231.35 252.48 948.82
Madhya Pradesh 840.35 857.04 1,840.16 2,463.22 2,802.14

Dadra and Nagar

– 2.97 5.46 5.46 5.46
Haveli
Goa – 0.71 3.81 7.44 26.49
Daman and Diu – 10.46 14.47 40.55 41.01

Tamil Nadu 1,590.97 1,691.83 2,575.22 4,475.21 6,736.43

Andhra Pradesh 979.65 1,867.23 3,085.68 4,203.00 4,534.19
Telangana 973.41 1,286.98 3,592.09 3,953.12 4,666.03

Kerala – 1,844.20 161.057 257.00 761.44

Karnataka 327.53 1,027.84 6,095.56 7,355.17 8,241.41
Puducherry - 0.08 3.14 9.33 35.53

Bihar 95.91 108.52 142.45 159.51 192.89

Odisha 77.64 79.42 394.73 401.72 453.17
Jharkhand 17.51 23.27 34.95 52.06 105.84

West Bengal 23.07 26.14 75.95 149.84 179.98

Sikkim 0.01 0.00 0.01 0.07 4.68
Assam 11.18 11.78 22.40 42.99 147.92

Tripura 5.02 5.09 5.09 9.41 17.60

Arunachal Pradesh 0.27 0.27 5.39 5.61 11.64
Mizoram 0.10 0.10 0.50 1.53 28.01

Manipur 0.01 0.03 3.44 6.36 12.28

Meghalaya 0.01 0.01 0.12 0.12 4.15
Nagaland 0.50 0.50 1.00 1.00 3.04
Andaman and Nicobar 5.10 6.56 11.73 29.22 29.91
Lakshadweep 0.75 0.75 0.75 0.75 3.27
Others 58.31 58.31 0.00 0.00 45.01
Total India (MW) 6,762.85 12,288.83 28,180.66 40,085.37 66,780.36[31]
• Installed capacity
(MWAC)
 30

3.4.1 Andhra Pradesh

The installed photovoltaic capacity in Andhra Pradesh was 4257 MW as of 30 September 2022.
The state is planning to add 10,050 MW solar power capacity to provide power supply to the
farming sector during the daytime. The state has also offered five Ultra Mega Solar Power Projects
with a total capacity of 12,200 MW to developers under renewable power export policy outside
the state. Andhra Pradesh is endowed with abundant pumped hydroelectric energy storage to make
available solar power in to round the clock power supply for meeting its ultimate energy needs.
The state is planning to construct 33,000 MW pumped storage projects to mitigate the intermittent
associated with renewable energy.

In 2015, NTPC agreed with Transco to install the 250-MW NP Kunta Ultra Mega Solar Power
Project near Kadir in Anantapur district. In October 2017, 1000, MW was commissioned at
Kurnool Ultra Mega Solar Park which has become the world's largest solar power plant at that
time. In August 2018, Greater Visakhapatnam commissioned a 2 MW Maslova Reservoir grid-
connected floating solar project which is the largest operational floating solar PV project in Indian
has awarded BHEL to install a 25 MW floating solar PV plant on its water supply reservoir.
APGENCO commissioned 400 MW Anantapur – II solar park located at Talar Cheluva village
near Adipati.

3.4.2 Delhi
Delhi being the Capital and a city state in India, has limitation in installing ground based solar
power plants. However, it is leading in rooftop solar PV installations by adopting fully flexible
net metering system. The installed solar power capacity is 211 MW as on 30 June 2022. Delhi
government has announced that the Rajghat thermal power plant will be officially shut at the 45-
acre plant site and turned into a 5 MW solar power PV plant.

3.4.3 Gujarat
Gujarat is one of India's most solar-developed states, with its total installed solar power generation
capacity reaching 7,806 MW as of 30 June 2022. Gujarat has been a leader in solar-power
generation in India due to its high solar-power potential, availability of vacant land, connectivity,
transmission and distribution infrastructure and utilities. According to a report by the Low
Emission Development Strategies Global Partnership (LEDS GP) report, these attributes are
complemented by political will and investment. The 2009 Solar Power of Gujarat policy
framework, financing mechanism and incentives have contributed to a green investment climate
in the state and the targets for grid-connected solar power.
The state has commissioned Asia's largest solar park near the village of Charania in Patan
district.The park is generating 345 MW by March 2016 of its 500 MW total planned capacity and
has been cited as an innovative and environmentally-friendly project by the Confederation of Indian
Industry. In December 2018, 700 MW Solar PV plant at Raghavendra Solar Park is contracted at
₹2.89/unit levelized tariff.
To make Gandhinagar a solar-power city, the state government has begun a rooftop solar-
power generation scheme. Under the scheme, Gujarat plans to generate 5 MW of solar
power by putting solar panels on about 50 state-government buildings and 500 private
buildings.
 31

3.4.4 Haryana
State has set the 4.2 GW solar power (including 1.6 GW solar roof top) target by 2022 as it has
high potential since it has at least 330 sunny days. Haryana is one of the fastest growing states in
terms of solar energy with installed and commissioned capacity of 73.27 MW. Out of this, 57.88
MW was commissioned in FY 2016/17. Haryana solar power policy announced in 2016 offers
90% subsidy to farmers for the solar powered water pumps, which also offers subsidy for the solar
street lighting, home lighting solutions, solar water heating schemes, solar cooker schemes. It is
mandatory for new residential buildings larger than 500 square yards (420 m2) to install 3% to
5% solar capacity for no building plan sanctioning is required, and a loan of up to
₹1 million is made available to the residential property owners. Haryana provides 100% waiver
of electricity taxes, chess, electricity duty, wheeling charges, cross subsidy charges, transmission
and distribution charges, etc. for rooftop solar projects.

In December 2018, Haryana had installed solar capacity of 48.80 MW, and in January 2019
Haryana floated tender for 300 MW grid-connected solar power, and additional 16 MW tender
for the canal top solar power.

3.4.5 Karnataka

Karnataka is one of the highest solar powers producing state in India with a total 7,597 MW
installed capacity by the end of June 2022. The installed capacity of Pasargadae Solar Park is 2050
MW by the end of year 2019 which was the world biggest solar park at that time.

3.4.6 Kerala

The installed capacity of solar plants in Kerala as on 31 March 2023 is 761 MW. Kochi
international airport is the first airport to run completely in solar energy. CIAL solar farm is
responsible for it. There are plans to setup solar power plants in Idukki, Wayanad, Malappuram
and Palakkad districts.

The first solar park in Kerala is located in Perla, Kasaragod Perla, Kasaragod. Floating Solar parks
are being built and partly functional in Banasura Sagar , Idukki Dam and Vamana Lake.

3.4.7 Ladakh

Ladakh, though a late entrant in solar power plants, is planning to install nearly 7,500 MW
capacity in few years.
 32

3.4.8 Madhya Pradesh

Madhya Pradesh had a total photovoltaic capacity of 1,117 MW by the end of July 2017. The
Welspun Solar MP project, the largest solar-power plant in the state, was built at a cost of ₹11
billion (US$140 million) on 305 ha (3.05 km2) of land and will supply power at ₹8.05 (10¢ US)
per kWh.
A 130 MW solar power plant project at Bhagalpur, a village in EnerMech district, was launched
by Prime Minister Narendra Modi. It is the largest solar producer, and Welspun Energy is one of
the top three companies in India's renewable-energy sector.
A planned 750 MW solar-power plant in Reiwa district, the Reiwa Ultra Mega Solar plant, was
completed and inaugurated on 10 July 2020. Spread over 1,590 acres, it is Asia's largest solar
power plant and was constructed at a cost of ₹4,500 crore. Madhya Pradesh I is a power plant
under construction near Surjapuri Village in the Sarjapur district of Madhya Pradesh with 200
MW. It is scheduled to be operational by fall 2023.

3.4.9 Maharashtra
The 125-MW Sarki solar plant is the largest solar-power plant in Maharashtra. The Shri Saibaba
Sans than Trust has the world's largest solar steam system. It was constructed at the Shirdi shrine
at an estimated cost of ₹13.3 million (US$170,000), ₹5,840,000 (US$73,000) which was paid as a
subsidy by the renewable-energy ministry. The system is used to cook 50,000 meals per day for
pilgrims visiting the shrine, resulting in annual savings of 100,000 kg of cooking gas, and was
designed to generate steam for cooking even in the absence of electricity to run the circulating
pump. The project to install and commission the system was completed in seven months, and the
system has a design life of 25 years.

Fig.2 Rooftop solar panels at Pune Railway Station

 33

3.4.10 Rajasthan
Rajasthan is one of India's most solar-developed states, with its total photovoltaic capacity
reaching 14,454 MW by end of June 2022. Rajasthan is also home to the world's largest Fresnel
type 125 MW CSP plant at the Dhirubhai Ambani Solar Park. Jodhpur district leads the state with
installed capacity of over 1,500 MW, followed by Jaisalmer and Bikaner.
The Bhadra Solar Park, with total installed capacity of 2,245 MW, is the biggest plant in the
world as of March 2020.
The only tower type solar thermal power plant (2.5 MW) in India is located in Bikaner district.
In March 2019, the lowest tariff in India is ₹2.48/kWh for installing the 750 MW solar power
plants in the state.
Rajasthan became the first state with 10GW of solar power capacity. It is targeting a capacity
of 30 GW by Financial Year 2024-2025 and 75 GW by 2030.

3.4.11 Tamil Nadu

Tamil Nadu had the 5th highest operating solar-power capacity in India in May 2018. The total
operating capacity in Tamil Nadu was 1.8 GW. On 1 July 2017, the solar power tariff in Tamil
Nadu has hit an all- time low of ₹3.47 per unit when bidding for 1500 MW capacity was held.

The 648-MW Kimathi Solar Power Project is the biggest operating project in the state. On 1
January 2018, NLC India Limited (NLCIL) commissioned a new 130 MW solar power project in
Nayeli.

As of 2021, total installed capacity stands at 4.3 GW, with plans for capacity to double by 2022.

3.4.12 Telangana

Telangana ranks sixth when it comes to solar energy generation capacity in India. The state has a
solar power generation capacity of 3,953 MW and plans to achieve a capacity of 5,000 MW by
2022. In 2019, NTPC Rama Gundam had placed work order on Bharat Heavy Electricals Limited
(BHEL) to install 100 MW floating solar PV plant on its water supply reservoir. In July 2022,
NTPC's 100 MW floating solar photovoltaic (PV) project becomes fully operational in Telangana
and becomes India's largest floating solar plant equipped with cutting-edge technology and
environmentally friendly features.
 34

3.5 ELECTRICITY GENERATION

Including both ground and roof-mounted plants, the country's installed solar power capacity
was 66.78 GWAC as of 31 March 2023. Solar electricity generation from April 2022 to March
2023 increased to 102.01 terawatt- hour (TWh) from 73.48 TWh in the same period a year
ago.

Year Solar power generation (TWh)

2013–14 3.36

2014–15 4.60

2015–16 7.45

2016–17 12.09

2017–18 25.87

2018–19 39.27

2019–20 50.13

2020–21 60.40
Annual solar power generation
2021–22 73.48

2022–23 102.01
Regional solar power generation (GWh)
Month Total (GWh)
North West South East Northeast

April 2022 3,208.06 1,632.07 3,376.37 92.37 15.04 8,323.92

May 2022 3,558.22 1,744.64 3,402.17 99.98 22.55 8,827.56

June 2022 3,447.78 1,538.53 3,177.10 78.58 17.92 8,259.91

July 2022 3,000.77 1,178.11 2,699.70 74.34 12.98 6,965.89

August 2022 3,136.11 1,216.88 2,972.50 75.70 27.07 7,428.25

September 2022 3,662.69 1,390.23 3,052.64 76.37 25.79 8,207.73

October 2022 3,835.41 1,657.49 3,123.65 88.36 21.92 8,726.83

November 2022 3,389.91 1,577.53 2,898.03 89.57 21.85 7,976.88

December 2022 3,436.29 1,564.96 3,098.10 85.72 22.44 8,207.51

January 2023 3,539.94 1,831.84 3,806.66 87.91 23.66 9,290.01

February 2023 3,733.67 1,977.84 3,726.01 98.09 19.80 9,555.41

March 2023 4,172.76 1,930.04 4,018.53 97.45 25.5 10,244.34

Total (GWh) 42,121.59 19,240.16 39,351.45 1,044.45 256.58 102,014.24
Monthly solar power generation, April 2022 – March 2023
 35

3.6 INSTALLATIONS BY APPLICATION

Application 31 January 2023

Ground mounted including floating and hybrid. 53,387.30

Rooftop 8,218.00

Off-grid 2,288.00

TOTAL 63,893.30

• Photovoltaic (PV) installed capacity by application (MWAC)

The installed capacity is generally given in DC capacity at standard operating conditions. The
actual AC power peak output at high voltage from a solar plant is between 65 and 75% of the
rated DC capacity, after accounting for temperature coefficient, derating of solar cells capacity
with time, losses in the total system, elevation of the plant, location of the plant, actual solar
irradiance, etc. The AC peak power is also generally limited by the selected inverter's capacity for
economic reasons.

As of September 2022, the rooftop solar power generation capacity is 8.3 GW. Rooftop solar can
be divided into residential solar, commercial and industrial solar roofs as well as a range of
installations including agricultural buildings, community and cultural centers. 70 per cent of
rooftop solar in 2018 was in the industrial and commercial sectors, with just 20 per cent as
residential rooftop solar. Rooftop solar as a proportion of total solar installations is much less than
is typical in other leading solar countries but was forecast to grow to 40 GW by 2022 under
national targets. A rough calculation would imply that India had around just 430 MW of residential
rooftop solar, whilst the UK with around half the overall solar capacity of India had over 2,500
MW of residential solar in 2018. The smallest segment was off-grid solar at 1467 MW which
could help play a role in reaching villages and dwellings without access to the national grid.

The open-access solar installation capacity reached 7.0 GW capacity as of September 2022.

Fig.2. Solar Panels at HUDA City Centre,Gurgaon

 36

3.7 MAJOR PHOTOVOLTAIC POWER STATIONS

Below is a list of solar power generation facilities with a capacity of at least 150 MW.

DC
peak
Plant State Coordinates Commissioned Notes
power
(MW)
World's biggest solar
park in terms of
Bhadla Solar 27°32′22.81″N generation and second
Rajasthan 2,245 2020 largest in terms of area
Park 71°54′54.91″E
as of March 2020
Second biggest solar
park in the world and
Pavagada Solar 14°15′7″N
Karnataka 2,050 2019 world's largest in terms
Park 77°26′51″E
of area as in March
2020
Kurnool Ultra
Mega Solar Andhra 15.681522°N
1,000 2017
Park Pradesh 78.283749°E
In Nambulapulakunta
Andhra 14°01′N Mandal. Total planned
NP Kunta 978 2021 capacity 1500 MW
Pradesh 78°26′E

Rewa Ultra Madhya 24°28′49″N

750 2018
Mega Solar Pradesh 81°34′28″E
Situated at Charanka
village in Patan district.
Charanka Solar 23°54′N Capacity expected to go
Gujarat 690 2012
Park 71°12′E up to 790 MW in 2019.
With a generating
capacity of 648 MWpat
Kamuthi Solar 9.347568°N a single location,it is
Tamil Nadu 648 2017 the world's 12th largest
Power Project 78.392162°E
solar park based on
capacity.
Gujarat solar 23°54′N
park 1 Gujarat 71°12′E 221 2012
Located at
Talaricheruvu villagein
Ananthapuramu Andhra 14°58′49″N Tadipatri mandal of
400 2019
– II Pradesh 78°02′45″E Anantapur district.
Planned capacity 500
MW
Located at
Marrikommadinne
Galiveedu solar Andhra 14°6′21″N village in Galiveedu
400 2020
park Pradesh 78°27′57″E mandal of kadapa
district.
Mansour Solar Madhya 24°5′17″N
Farm Pradesh 250 2017
75°47′59″E
Kadapa Ultra
Andhra 14°54′59″N Total planned
Mega Solar 250 2020
Pradesh 78°17′31″E capacity 1000 MW
Park
Welspun Solar Madhya
MP project Pradesh 151 2014
Major photovoltaic (PV) power plant
 37

CHAPTER IV

SMART IRRIGATION SYSTEM

USING ARDUINO UNO
(MODEL)
 38

SMART IRRIGATION SYSTEM USING ARDUINO UNO

4.1 INTRODUCTION:
In this digital world we need every possible thing around us to be automatic which reduces human
effort. There are increasing electronic circuits that make today’s life easier and simpler.
Nowadays, energy crisis and water crisis are the big problems faced by everyone.

So, there is a need to conserve energy and water. The aim of this is to make solar based prototype
to irrigate the field automatically. Imagine how helpful it will be when you are busy doing your
next task and your field is being irrigated automatically at low cost. No worries about under
irrigation as well as over irrigation, no worries about the wastage of water as well as expensive
electricity, no worries about your busy schedule. This is what Automatic irrigation is about and
there is no end to its practical application.

‘SMART IRRIGATION SYSTEM USING SOLAR ENERGY’ as the name specifies that it
irrigates the field when the moisture value of soil is below the reference value, and it will
automatically turn off when the moisture value in soil exceeds that reference value.

4.2 BACKGROUND

From different ages of evolution, we’ve come to the dawn of the technological era. Mankind
started their journey from stone and stick and now they’ve come to nuclear weapons. Since an
early age human has always wanted to do their work in a simplified and easier manner. To tell the
truth, they’ve always wanted some assistance to do their work for them. And they’ve got
technology which has given them things beyond their imagination. A person finds it almost
impossible to spend a day without technology. There are robots assisting people in their works.
Machines have helped them do impossible things which humans alone can’t do. So, they are
pretty much dependent upon technology. Automation has replaced humans in so many sectors of
tedious jobs, there is technology in every field.

As People are wasting energy for no reason, like they forget their works because of their busy
schedule. Thus, we are going to design a system that lets them to be busier without any wastage of
water as well as electricity.

4.3 DESCRIPTION

The components used in our project are:

 39

(a) Arduino Uno:

The Arduino Uno is a microcontroller board based on AT mega 328 . It has 14 digital
input/output pins (of which 6 can be used as PWM outputs), 6 analog inputs, USB connection
power jack, and a reset button.

Fig.4.1

(b) Moisture sensor

The soil moisture sensor (YL-69) consists of two probes which are used to measure the
volumetric content of water. The two probes allow the current to pass through the soil and then it
gets the resistance value to measure the moisture value.

Fig.4.2 soil moisture sensor

(c) Water pump:

The water pump is used to artificially supply water for a particular task. It can be electronically
controlled by interfacing it to a microcontroller. It can be triggered ON/OFF by sending signals as
required. The process of artificially supplying water is known as pumping.
 40

Fig.4.3 Dc water pump

(d) Switch:

Relays are switching that open and close circuits electromechanically or electronically. Relays
control one electrical circuit by opening and closing contacts in another circuit. Once the controller
receives this signal, it generates an output that drives a relay for operating the water pump.

Fig.4.4 Relay switch

(e) Solar panel and Battery:

Photovoltaic solar panels absorb sunlight as a source of energy to generate electricity. Battery is
charged by solar energy.

Fig.4.5 Solar Panel and Battery

4.4 SCOPE OF THE PROJECT

This automation prototype is meant to demonstrate the proper functionality and scalability of the
system, not to include every desired system feature. There are countless features and devices that
the system could eventually incorporate, but in order to maintain proper project scope, only a
single user interface has been designed. In context of Nepal, we have many available water
resources but many of us are unaware about the proper use of available resources. Some of the
applications of this project are:
 41

➢ Large farms where manual irrigation is time consuming.

➢ Gardens where proper and determined irrigation is necessary.

➢ Nurseries where water resource is limited but effective irrigation is needed.

4.5 OBJECTIVES

• To minimize manual intervention by the farmer.

• To prevent the excessive wastage of water & electricity.
• To increase the production of crops.

4.6 METHODOLOGY

4.6.1 WORKING PRINCIPLE

This project uses Arduino Uno to control the motor. The Arduino Board is programmed using the
Arduino IDE software. Two moisture sensors measure the level of moisture in the soil and
calculate the average moisture value and send the signal to the Arduino if watering is required.
The water pump supplies water to the plants until the desired moisture level is reached. The
rechargeable battery that supplies required power source is recharged via Solar panel. A moisture
sensor is used for sensing the soil condition –to know whether the soil is wet or dry, and the input
signals are then sent to the microcontroller, which controls the whole circuit. Whenever the soil
condition is dry, the microcontroller sends command to relay, and the motor gets switched on and
supplies water to the field. And if the soil gets wet, the motor gets switched off.

4.6.2 BLOCK DIAGRAM

Fig.4.6 Block Diagram of AISS using solar panel.

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4.6.3 ALGORITHM
▪ Step 1: Start
▪ Step 2: Read the moisture value from the soil using moisture sensors.
▪ Step3: Sensor sends the value to the Microcontroller.
▪ Step 4: Check if the available average moisture value is < required value if yes, then go
to Step 5 else if, go to Step 2
▪ Step 5: Active the Relay Switch
▪ step 6: Turn on the motor Automatically then, go to step 4.

4.6.4 FLOWCHART

4.6.4 CONNECTION DIAGRAM

Fig.4.7 Connection diagram of Automatic irrigation system using solar Energy

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4.6.6 IMPLEMENTATION

For the implementation of the proposed system, we are using a 2 HP water pump and various
modules which are designed and fabricated separately and then finally they are assembled to
implement the proposed system. Solar energy is harnessed using solar panel PVL-68 that
generates 53W at Nominal Operating Cell Temperature. It is a 24V, amorphous silicon type solar
cell.

Specification of the solar panel selected:

Array capacity -240Wp
Irradiance – 580 W/m2
Open circuit voltage – 18.1 V
Short circuit current – 3.98 A

Load tests on a solar panel have been conducted and its maximum and minimum values is
tabulated.
Table 1: Load test characteristics of solar panel.
S. No Voltage (in Volts) Current (in Ampere) Irradiance (W/m2)
1 5.2 1.45 300
2 17.5 2.95 710
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CHAPTER V

COST ANALYSIS
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COST ANALYSIS
With over nine hundred thousand tube wells being used in every state of India, around Rs.18
million of energy is used for pumping water for irrigation. This amount of money used for
electricity can be saved with the help of solar water pumps. Annually the cost of nearly five
million kilo watt hour of energy can be spared. That is around Rs.27 million per annum can be
redeemed which comes to around 40% of the total amount of investment.
Even though the initial investment is high, it can be earned back in 2 and a half years’ time. If
we assume the cost of power is Rs. 1.5 million per kilo watt hour, Rs.18million is used for
pumping water alone in a year. By using the solar water pump, we can save up to 4.8 million
KWh of energy annually which saves a lot of energy. The excess energy can also be given to
the grid with small modifications and investments in the circuit, which can add to the revenue
of the farmer.

Table2: Cost analysis.

Component Unit Cost Quantity Total Cost

Solar Panel (1.4m2) 24000 4 Rs.96000
Converter Circuit 400 1 Rs.400
Battery 24V,100Ah 8250 1 Rs.8250
Overall cost Rs.104650
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CHAPTER VI

CONCLUSION
 47

CONCLUSION

By implementing the proposed system there are various benefits for the government and the
farmers. For the government a solution for the energy crisis is proposed. By using the automatic
irrigation system, it optimizes the usage of water by reducing wastage and reduces the human
intervention for farmers.

The excess energy produced using solar panels can also be given to the grid with small
modifications in the system circuit, which can be a source of the revenue of the farmer, thus
encouraging farming in India and same time giving a solution for energy crisis. The proposed
system is an easy to implement and environmentally friendly solution for irrigating fields. The
system was found to be successful when implemented for bore holes as they pump over the
whole day. Solar pumps also offer clean solutions with no danger of borehole contamination.

The system requires minimal maintenance and attention as they are self-starting. To further
enhance the daily pumping rates tracking arrays can be implemented. This system demonstrates
the feasibility and application of using solar PV to provide energy for the pumping requirements
for sprinkler irrigation. Even though there is a high capital investment required for this system to
be implemented, the overall benefits are high and in the long run this system is economical.
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CHAPTER VII

REFERENCES
 49

REFERENCES

[1] Garg, H.P. 1987. Advances in solar energy technology, Volume 3. Riedel Publishing, Boston,
MA.
[2] Halcrow, S.W. and Partners. 1981. Small-scale solar powered irrigation pumping systems:
technical and economic review. UNDP Project GLO/78/004.Intermediate Technology Power,
London, UK. A. Hamim et al., “Mathematical modeling of a box-type solar cooker employing
an asymmetriccompound parabolic concentrator,” Solar Energy, vol.86, pp. 1673–1682, 2012.
[3] K. K. Test, M. T. Ho, H. S.-H. Chung, and S. Y. Hui, “A novel maximum power point tracker
for PV panels using switching frequency modulation,” IEEE Trans. Power Electron., vol. 17, no.
6, pp. 980–989, Nov.2002.
[4] Haley, M, and M. D. Dukes. 2007. Evaluation of sensor-based residential irrigation water
application. ASABE 2007 Annual International Meeting, Minneapolis, Minnesota, 2007.
ASABE Paper No. 072251.
[5] Prakash Persad, Nadine Sangster, Edward Cumberbatch, AneilRamkhalawand
andAatmaMaharajh, "Investigating the Feasibility of Solar Powered Irrigation for Food Crop
Production: A Caroni Case," ISSN 1000 7924 The Journal of the Association of Professional
Engineers of Trinidad and Tobago, Vol.40, No.2, pp.61-65, October/November 2011.
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