Solarisation of a Lift Irrigation System: Technical, Economic and Environmental Assessment of the Hriday Nagar Lift Pump Canal, Uttar Pradesh, India

Abstract

The Hriday Nagar Lift Pump Canal, located in Balrampur district, Uttar Pradesh, has been operational since 1968 and provides irrigation to approximately 166 hectares of agricultural land. For more than five decades, the canal relied entirely on grid electricity to operate its 20 HP pumping system. This dependence on conventional electricity presented persistent operational and financial challenges for the Uttar Pradesh Irrigation and Water Resources Department. Electricity expenditure increased substantially during peak irrigation periods, while frequent power interruptions disrupted scheduled water delivery. In addition, voltage fluctuations contributed to repeated motor-winding failures, increasing maintenance requirements, downtime, and operating costs. To address these limitations and improve the long-term sustainability of the irrigation system, the Hriday Nagar Lift Pump Canal was converted to solar-assisted operation under the Irrigation and Water Resources Department, Uttar Pradesh. A 25 kW on-grid solar photovoltaic (PV) power plant, integrated with a 25 kW Variable Frequency Drive (VFD), was installed to operate the existing pumping system efficiently while maintaining grid connectivity. This study evaluates the technical, economic, and environmental performance of the system following its solar conversion. Analysis of 11 months of post-commissioning electricity billing data demonstrates a substantial reduction in grid-energy expenditure. During the peak irrigation month of June, the electricity bill declined from approximately ₹19,200 to ₹6,200, representing a reduction of nearly 67.7%. annualised electricity-cost saving is approximately ₹65,945, based on the 11-month observation period., while the solar installation is estimated to avoid approximately 20 metric tonnes of CO₂ emissions annually. An important additional outcome is the improvement in the predictability of electricity expenditure. Following solar integration, monthly electricity bills have remained relatively stable at approximately ₹6,000–₹7,000, with considerably less seasonal variation than was observed under the earlier grid dependent system. This improved cost stability is particularly relevant for government-operated irrigation infrastructure, where predictable recurring expenditure can support more effective budgeting and asset management. The findings are examined in the context of published research on solar-powered irrigation pumping systems and India's PM-KUSUM programme to determine the extent to which the Hriday Nagar experience is consistent with established evidence and where it provides additional practical insight. While previous studies have largely focused on theoretical energy potential, economic feasibility, farmer-level solar pumps, or programme-scale assessments, the present case study contributes actual month-by-month electricity billing evidence from an operational government lift irrigation canal. The Hriday Nagar case demonstrates that solar PV integration with existing lift irrigation infrastructure can reduce grid-energy expenditure, improve operational reliability, stabilize recurring electricity costs, and lower the carbon footprint of public irrigation systems without requiring replacement of the entire pumping infrastructure. The study concludes by identifying the technical, financial, operational, and institutional requirements necessary for replicating this model across other suitable lift canals and pumping installations in Uttar Pradesh, thereby supporting the transition towards more economical, reliable, and low-carbon irrigation infrastructure.