Feasibility analysis of solar and wind energy-powered irrigation pumping systems using reanalysis data–A case of Thiruvananthapuram district in Kerala, southwest region of India

This study presents a feasibility assessment of solar photovoltaic and wind energy systems for irrigation at three locations (a coastal lowland location named A, a midland location B, and a highland location C) in Thiruvananthapuram district, Kerala, in India’s southwest region. The solar and wind potentials are determined using the National Solar Radiation Database and Modern-Era Retrospective Analysis for Research and Applications, Version 2 reanalysis data sets, respectively. The technical analyses suggest that site B has the most solar energy potential, while site C has the highest wind energy potential. However, the economic feasibility study reveals that the only suitable location is site B, which has a 10-year simple payback time (SPT). The site has an annual solar energy potential of 1633.85 kWh/kW p , which is enough to pump 3921.24 kL of water to irrigate the majority of crops in one acre.