Solar-powered irrigation systems for resilience to climate change: An economic viability analysis

Climate change and unpredictable weather patterns are a concern for developing countries where a substantial share of the population relies on rain-fed agriculture. Electrification has the potential to improve resilience in these contexts but energy access and affordability remain challenging for rural communities. We aim to explore the viability of solar-powered irrigation systems (SPIS) as a means to improve agricultural resilience to climate change and to make solar mini-grids economically viable and financially sustainable for rural communities. Data on existing and planned SPIS projects in Uganda, Ethiopia, and Ghana will be collected to map the current situation and assess post-construction performances and functionality. The project will then apply a viability analysis framework that takes account of local context to conduct economic net benefit calculations for farmers in selected sites in each country to understand the potential for scaling the technology and the distribution of costs and benefits over time compared to alternatives such as diesel systems. The approach, already developed by team members for Ethiopia, will be extended to Uganda and Ghana to provide a synthesis framework for other African settings. Electrification; solar irrigation; climate change resilience; water-energy-agriculture nexus,