Your Farm Details
▾Used to estimate pump kW only when farm-size mode is selected.
Farm-size mode uses 0.5 kW per hectare, minimum 1 kW. Verify hydraulic requirements.
| Option | Capital Cost | 10-Year Total |
|---|---|---|
| Diesel Pump | — | — |
| Solar Pump | — | — |
| 10-Year Savings | — | |
| Metric | Value |
|---|---|
| Solar Array Needed | — |
| Pump Size Used | — |
| Pump Sizing Basis | — |
| Annual Diesel Cost | — |
| Payback Period | — |
| CO₂ Saved / Year | — |
Quote-ready pump sizing basis
Calculate a comparison to record whether farm area or a known pump rating drove the result.
- Start with farm hectares if the pump is unknown, then verify the estimate against real water demand and hydraulic head.
The farm-size rule is a planning proxy only. It does not calculate litres per day, total dynamic head, pipe friction, pump curve, or borehole recovery.
No pump basis calculated yet.
Solar vs Diesel Irrigation in Africa — The Business Case
This planning comparison uses the selected pump rating — or a simple 0.5 kW-per-hectare proxy when the pump is unknown — together with the country energy dataset to model diesel and solar costs. The pump estimate must still be checked against water demand, pumping head, flow, and equipment curves.
Disclaimer: Fuel prices and exchange assumptions come from the dated country energy dataset, not a live supplier quote. Verify the displayed dataset month, diesel price, solar yield, system configuration, and local installation costs before acting.
Farm area is a starting proxy, not a pump specification
If the pump is unknown, farm-size mode lets the protected engine estimate 0.5 kW per hectare with a 1 kW minimum. If you know the pump rating, select it directly and the hectares will not alter the cost model.
- Unknown pump: use hectares for a first-pass comparison, then give the copied brief to a pump supplier.
- Known pump: use its rated kW and verify whether the quoted motor, controller, and solar array match the duty point.
- Before purchase: confirm water demand, total dynamic head, pipe losses, flow, borehole recovery, seasonal pumping hours, surge, and dry-run protection.
Private by default. Farm and pump inputs stay in this browser unless you choose to copy the quote brief.
Diesel vs Solar Farm FAQ
How does farm-size pump estimation work?
Farm-size mode uses the protected engine's simple planning proxy of 0.5 kW per hectare, with a 1 kW minimum. It is not hydraulic pump sizing and must be checked against water demand, total dynamic head, flow, and borehole yield.
What happens when I select a known pump size?
The selected pump kW drives the calculation. Farm hectares remain useful context for the copied quote brief but do not change costs, solar array size, fuel use, or payback.
What should a solar-pump supplier verify?
Ask the supplier to verify daily water demand, pumping hours, static and dynamic head, pipe friction, pump curve, borehole recovery, solar yield, mounting, controls, dry-run protection, and maintenance support.
Compare pump costs before switching systems
Estimate diesel and solar pump capital cost, 10-year operating cost, payback, and annual emissions impact for irrigation planning.
Local-first estimate. No live quote or official approval is performed.
What to check
- Methodology: combine pump size, daily pumping hours, country assumptions, diesel operating cost, solar capex, and payback math.
- Verify pump duty, water head, irrigation schedule, diesel price, maintenance, solar yield, panel mounting, theft/security, and installer support.
- Copy the comparison before discussing finance, supplier quotes, or cooperative purchasing.
Limitations
- Disclaimer: planning estimate only, not a farm finance offer, agronomy advice, installer quote, grant approval, or guaranteed payback.
- Fuel prices, solar prices, water needs, crop cycles, weather, and maintenance can materially change the result.
- Source/reference note: verify against pump datasheets, current diesel prices, solar installer quotes, farm water requirements, and local safety rules.
Privacy note: the calculator runs in your browser. Do not paste account numbers, installer contracts, or private customer data into notes you plan to share.