Irrigation energy efficiency

These pages detail some of the ways you can better manage your irrigation to improve energy and water use efficiency.

The primary value of irrigation is in supporting profitable and healthy plant growth. This should be the priority when it comes to managing systems.

That said, where energy use can be reduced, and the associated implementation costs produce a good return on investment, then it makes good business sense to pursue these. There is another upside to running more efficient systems in that the chances are that water delivery will be better targeted and controlled, which will have a positive effect on plant performance and disease control. It will also save on water costs.

Technology in irrigation has progressed steadily over the years. It’s gone through a long period of evolution, not revolution, and consequently, there’s been few ‘silver bullet’ solutions to deliver a super-efficient system. In practice, being efficient is about looking through the various possibilities for saving and implementing cost-effective measures in a methodical way. As such, energy efficiency practices are largely straightforward and mostly based on common sense.

There’s a useful set of energy efficiency guidelines called the Seven ‘C’s, which offer an ordered way of looking at how any system can be improved to lower energy use and costs. The ‘C’s in question are:

• Core equipment
• Control
• Containment
• Counting
• Care
• Cost
• Create

Using these concepts helps to set out some of the opportunities for improvement.

It is worth considering the primary energy drivers for irrigation systems. Click the link to consider the core equipment you use, such as pumps and pipes, and how much energy the system uses.

Even the most basic irrigation systems should offer accurate timed control of the various zones, so make sure you check these timings and make sure they suit your needs and provide the most efficient control.

Most watering systems are notoriously bad at getting water in the irrigation system to the roots of the plant. Consider measures you can take to get as much water as possible to the plant and avoiding waste.

Effective management of irrigation will come from disciplined measurement and recording and taking action as a result of the information gathered. Read on for tips on how best to measure and record.

Caring for systems and being inventive about where the energy comes from is important when improving efficiency. You also need to analyse cost when making improvements to your irrigation energy efficiency.

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An irrigation system in a glasshouse

Image © NFU Energy.