Off-Grid Solar for Farms: Powering Agriculture with Felicity Solar
Farms and agricultural operations in the Middle East and Africa are natural candidates for off-grid solar. They are often far from the grid, have significant daytime energy needs (pumping, processing), and occupy large areas perfect for solar panel placement.
Common Farm Power Needs
| Load | Typical Power | Daily Use | kWh/Day |
|---|---|---|---|
| Water pump (irrigation) | 1,500-3,000W | 4-6 hours | 6-18 |
| Cold storage / refrigeration | 500-2,000W | 12-24 hours | 6-48 |
| Lighting (farm buildings) | 200-500W | 6-8 hours | 1.2-4 |
| Worker quarters | 500-1,500W | 8-12 hours | 4-18 |
| Electric fencing | 5-20W | 24 hours | 0.12-0.48 |
| Feed processing | 2,000-5,000W | 1-3 hours | 2-15 |
System Design for Small Farm (10-20 kWh/day)
- Inverter: Felicity IVPS 8kVA (48V) — handles pump starting surges
- Solar panels: 12x 550W = 6,600W
- Batteries: 48V 400Ah LiFePO4 (19.2 kWh) — 2 days autonomy
- Charge controller: Built into IVPS (80A) + external 60A MPPT for additional panels
System Design for Large Farm (40-80 kWh/day)
- Inverters: 2x Felicity IVPS 10kVA in parallel (20kVA total)
- Solar panels: 30x 550W = 16,500W
- Batteries: 48V 800Ah LiFePO4 (38.4 kWh)
- Backup: 15kVA diesel generator via IVPS generator input
Water Pumping Strategies
Direct Solar Pumping
For daytime-only irrigation, connect a solar pump controller directly to panels. No batteries needed — the pump runs when the sun shines. Most cost-effective for irrigation.
Battery-Backed Pumping
For flexible scheduling (early morning, evening watering), use the Felicity IVPS system with battery storage. The pump can run any time, and batteries charge during the day.
Cold Storage
Produce storage and dairy cooling are critical for farm profitability. A 2-door commercial refrigerator draws about 500-800W and runs 12-16 hours daily (6-12 kWh). Walk-in cold rooms need 2,000-5,000W. Size the solar system to fully charge batteries by midday, so the cold room runs on battery power through the evening and night.
Return on Investment
A typical farm spending $500-$1,500 per month on diesel for generators and pumps can replace this with a $10,000-$20,000 solar system. Payback period: 12-24 months. Over 15 years, solar saves $70,000-$250,000 in fuel costs alone.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can solar power run a farm water pump?
Yes. Solar is one of the most common ways to power farm water pumps globally. A 1.5kW pump needs about 2,000-2,500W of solar panels for direct daytime pumping, or a Felicity IVPS 3kVA system with batteries for flexible scheduling.
How much does a farm solar system cost?
A small farm system (10-20 kWh/day) costs $8,000-$15,000 with LiFePO4 batteries. A large farm system (40-80 kWh/day) costs $20,000-$40,000. Both pay for themselves in 12-24 months through diesel savings.
Can solar keep a cold room running at night?
Yes, with sufficient battery storage. A cold room drawing 2kW for 10 night hours needs 20 kWh of battery energy. With LiFePO4 at 80% DoD, you need about 25 kWh of battery capacity, plus enough solar panels to recharge fully each day.
