Solar irrigation system
The Problem and Business Challenge
Farmers in Cambodia face critical challenges ensuring consistent water availability for irrigating their rice fields. With climate change intensifying, rainfall patterns have become increasingly erratic, complicating farmers’ ability to predict water availability. This forces many to adjust their planting and harvesting schedules, often with mixed results. In some cases, farmers experience severe water shortages during dry spells, while excessive rainfall leads to flooding, causing significant crop damage. These uncertainties can lead to complete crop failures, particularly concerning since rice farmers typically harvest twice a year.
To irrigate their fields, many farmers rely on personal water pumps to draw water from nearby small canals. However, the critical issue is not the pumping itself but ensuring that water is consistently available in these canals. Larger companies, tasked with bringing water from major rivers to these smaller canals, often rely on fuel-powered water pumping systems. This approach presents significant challenges. Firstly, these systems require substantial amounts of fuel, increasing costs for the companies and, indirectly, for farmers who depend on these services. Secondly, the reliance on fuel-based solutions contributes to high carbon emissions, exacerbating environmental issues.
For farmers, the challenge lies in ensuring that when they pump water from their local canals, adequate water has already been delivered to these canals by the larger fuel-powered systems. Without consistent replenishment of water in these canals, farmers face significant risks to their livelihoods. The combination of unpredictable water supply, rising costs due to fuel consumption, and the environmental impact of traditional irrigation methods underscores the urgent need for an innovative, sustainable solution that can reliably provide water while reducing operational and environmental costs.
The Solution: PTEAH Baitong’s Solar-Powered Irrigation System
PTEAH Baitong, a company funded by Sogo Energy Group, has revolutionized its business model to address the pressing challenges of irrigation in Cambodia. Initially, PTEAH Baitong focused on installing solar panel systems for individual farmers to power their homes. However, realizing the limitations of this approach, they shifted to a community-based model with support from Sogo Energy. This transition involved the creation of large-scale solar farms to power advanced water pump systems capable of delivering water from major rivers into small irrigation canals, directly benefitting farming communities.
With this new approach, PTEAH Baitong ensures sustainable and reliable access to water. PTEAH Baitong, supported by investment from Sogo Energy Group, has implemented an innovative and sustainable irrigation solution to address the water access challenges faced by Cambodian farmers. Sogo Energy Group played a pivotal role in transforming PTEAH Baitong’s business model by shifting their focus from installing small solar panel systems for individual households to developing large-scale solar farms. This strategic change has enabled the company to power advanced water pumping systems that extract water from major rivers and distribute it into small irrigation canals serving farming communities.
This new approach ensures that farmers have consistent access to water, even during periods of unpredictable rainfall. The solar-powered system eliminates reliance on fuel-powered pumps, which are both costly and environmentally damaging. With this solution, farmers pay just $200 per year per hectare for irrigation access—significantly lower than the costs they previously incurred using fuel-based systems.
Pilot Project and Impact
During a visit to PTEAH Baitong’s pilot project in Kampong Cham, near Phnom Penh, we observed how the solution is transforming agricultural practices. The pilot serves 179 hectares of farmland, benefiting a community of around 80 farmers. By targeting groups of farmers located near major rivers, the business model emphasizes community collaboration. Farmers collectively benefit from shared irrigation infrastructure, ensuring that all fields in the area receive adequate water supply.
The solar farm consists of 320 panels divided into four sections, which power four floating water pumps on a nearby river. This system is capable of delivering 14,000 cubic meters of water daily into irrigation canals, maintaining a steady flow throughout the year. The system operates efficiently by directly channeling solar energy to the pumps, eliminating the need for costly energy storage.
Technical and Operational Excellence
PTEAH Baitong has implemented advanced data-driven management tools to optimize the performance of their solar farms. Using open-source data and predictive models, the team calculates expected solar energy output based on panel orientation, location, and seasonal variations. This data allows the company to plan daily energy use and adjust pump operations dynamically, ensuring maximum efficiency and consistent water supply.
The water flow is continuously measured and monitored, both at the pump inlet and at canal outlets, to verify alignment with energy predictions. The system’s flexibility ensures that energy is used efficiently: during peak sunlight hours, all four pumps operate simultaneously, while in mornings and evenings, one or two pumps are sufficient.
Farmer-Centric Business Model
One of the most innovative aspects of PTEAH Baitong’s approach is its farmer-centric business model. The company covers all upfront costs associated with the solar farm setup, including the installation of panels and pumps. Farmers are not required to make any payments until after their harvest season, providing financial relief and reducing risk. By tying payments to harvest cycles, the model aligns with farmers’ cash flow and makes the service more accessible to low-income communities.
Additionally, the company’s focus on serving communities rather than individual farmers creates economies of scale and ensures that entire regions benefit from improved irrigation. Farmers in the pilot project reported significant cost savings, increased crop yields, and greater confidence in the reliability of their irrigation system.
Scaling Potential and Sustainability
The success of this pilot demonstrates the scalability of PTEAH Baitong’s solution. The model is designed to work with groups of farmers who collectively manage farmland near major rivers. By collaborating with these communities, PTEAH Baitong can efficiently deploy solar farms and water pump systems, delivering consistent and sustainable irrigation at a fraction of the cost of traditional methods.
The use of solar energy not only reduces carbon emissions but also ensures long-term affordability for farmers, creating a positive impact on both livelihoods and the environment. This pilot project highlights the potential for wider adoption across Cambodia and other regions facing similar irrigation challenges.
Conclusion
PTEAH Baitong’s innovative solar-powered irrigation system is a game-changer for Cambodian farmers. By leveraging community-focused strategies, cutting-edge technology, and a sustainable business model, the company provides affordable, reliable, and eco-friendly access to water. With support from Sogo Energy Group, this approach is poised to scale, transforming agricultural practices and empowering farming communities for a more sustainable future.
Key Learnings from PTEAH Baitong’s Solar-Powered Irrigation Model
Solving Dual Business Challenges PTEAH Baitong successfully addresses two critical challenges faced by farmers: consistent access to water and the rising cost of fuel. By replacing fuel-powered pumps with solar-powered systems, the company not only reduces operational costs but also mitigates the environmental impact of fuel consumption, creating a more sustainable and cost-effective solution.
The Power of Community Collaboration The success of this business model lies in its focus on working with farming communities rather than individuals. By bringing together approximately 80 farmers managing 179 hectares of farmland, PTEAH Baitong ensures the financial sustainability of its solution through shared infrastructure and collective participation.
Efficient Use of Solar Energy A key innovation is the immediate utilization of solar energy rather than storing it. By directly channeling energy from the solar panels to the water pumps, the company optimizes energy usage, reduces waste, and ensures a continuous water supply. This model demonstrates the potential for real-time energy management in sustainable solutions.
Empowering Farmers Through Education PTEAH Baitong places significant emphasis on educating farmers about financial management and the benefits of sustainable irrigation practices. By empowering farmers with knowledge and tools, the company fosters responsibility and helps them understand the long-term value of reduced energy costs and improved crop yields, creating a positive cycle of impact.
These learnings highlight the importance of combining innovation, community collaboration, and farmer empowerment to create scalable and sustainable solutions for agricultural challenges.
