Beyond Irrigation: Harnessing the untapped potential of solar pumps

The report examines a pilot project in Uttar Pradesh, India, where solar irrigation pumps (SIPs) were used to power grain mills. The study found that this 'secondary use' of solar power reduced milling costs and travel time for rural communities and empowered women and elders. However, the pilot faced operational challenges including poor siting and limited operator availability. The authors argue that integrating secondary uses into government policy and pairing them with battery storage and female operators could maximize the economic returns of solar assets.

• India possesses approximately 1 million standalone solar irrigation pumps, a significant portion of which remains idle during non-irrigation seasons, presenting an opportunity for productive secondary uses.
• A pilot study in Uttar Pradesh demonstrated that using solar irrigation pumps to power grain mills improved accessibility, lowered costs, and allowed for more diverse and fresher milling, while enabling women, girls, and elders to mill independently.
• The effectiveness of the solar-powered milling pilot was hindered by operational constraints, specifically regarding the location of the mills, the availability and quality of operators, and the formation of queues.
• To scale the secondary use of solar irrigation power, the report recommends aligning technology with local needs, training women as operators, providing operator incentives, and utilizing battery storage.

APA

Saxenan,, S. A. V. M. L. (2026). Beyond Irrigation: Harnessing the untapped potential of solar pumps. International Institute for Sustainable Development. https://www.iisd.org/publications/report/beyond-irrigation-solar-pumps-india

Chicago

Saxenan,, Sejal Agarwal,Hridya Vijayan,Sunil Mani,Tara Laan,Abhinav. Beyond Irrigation: Harnessing the untapped potential of solar pumps. International Institute for Sustainable Development, 2026. https://www.iisd.org/publications/report/beyond-irrigation-solar-pumps-india.

Wikipedia

{{cite report |last1=Saxenan, |first1=Sejal Agarwal,Hridya Vijayan,Sunil Mani,Tara Laan,Abhinav |title=Beyond Irrigation: Harnessing the untapped potential of solar pumps |publisher=International Institute for Sustainable Development |date=10 February 2026 |url=https://www.iisd.org/publications/report/beyond-irrigation-solar-pumps-india |access-date=17 August 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@techreport{saxenan2026beyond, author = {Saxenan,, Sejal Agarwal,Hridya Vijayan,Sunil Mani,Tara Laan,Abhinav}, title = {{Beyond Irrigation: Harnessing the untapped potential of solar pumps}}, institution = {International Institute for Sustainable Development}, year = {2026}, month = feb, url = {https://www.iisd.org/publications/report/beyond-irrigation-solar-pumps-india}, urldate = {2026-08-17}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }