WIND POWERED IRRIGATION FOR SELECTED CROPS IN THE TEXAS PANHANDLE AND SOUTH PLAINS

摘要

This paper examines the economics of farmers using wind energy to irrigate various crops in the Panhandle and South Plains of Texas. In this paper two cases were analyzed. The first case involved installing a new wind turbine, and the second case considered the installation of a used wind turbine from California. Both wind turbines would be connected to the irrigation motor and to the utility. When there is not enough wind to pump the water, utility electricity can be used. In order for wind energy to be economic for most farmers in the Texas Plains, the current net billing cap of 50 kW needs to be increased to at least 300 kW and preferably higher. The wind system becomes more economic if the farmer uses most of the wind generated electricity and only sells a small percentage back to the utility. Growing crops like winter wheat that match the wind resource can do this most effectively. We estimated that a farmer would reach payback in less than 10 years if he bought a wind turbine that matched the irrigation power requirements, and he also grew a crop like winter wheat. Since winter wheat needs no water during the summer, the utility may be willing to pay the farmer more money for wind generated electricity during the summer since this will reduce their peak generation. Using the wind energy for other agricultural activities like cotton ginning and grain drying which are performed during non summer months (low wind energy months) will also improve the economics of buying a wind turbine.