www.tjprc.org editor@tjprc.org ESTIMATION OF SOLAR PANEL POWER FOR IRRIGATED CROPS IN NORTHERN GANGETIC PLAINS RAKESH KUMAR & SANJAY KUMAR Dr. Rajendra Prasad Central Agricultural University, Pusa, Bihar, India ABSTRACT The irrigation requirement for different crops varies from climatic conditions and soil types. The energy required for irrigation was met by either electricity or diesel fuel, but it is highly costly, and it is not eco-friendly sources of energy. The solar energy is cheaper sources of energy which is ultimately pollution free. The average annual normal solar irradiance of Bihar is 4.37 kWh/m 2 /day. The capacity of pump required to irrigate 1 ha of the field in the region of Pusa is 1 hp. The total power of the system calculated for 1.5 m 2 , 0.75 performance ratio and panel yield 15% is 0.2 kW. For 1 ha field to irrigate, it requires four solar plates of 1.5 m 2 . The maximum solar panel power requirement estimated was 99.51 kW and 173.05 kW considering rainfall and without rainfall for 70 acres (28.35 ha). The carbon dioxide emissions mitigation will be 2829 tonnes by this installation and will be equivalent to planting 4,526 teak trees over the lifetime (data from IISc) for 99.51 kW. As well as, carbon dioxide emissions mitigation will be 4894.17 tonnes for this installation will be equivalent to planting 7,831 teak trees over the lifetime (data from IISc) for 173.05 kW. The break-even point (in years) for 70 acres (28.35 ha ) field with electricity and diesel pump was 6.92 and 8.60 years using a pump of 32.82 hp. Moreover, for 1 ha field by electricity, and diesel pump was 6.92 and 8.60 years using a pump of 0.8775 hp up to a depth of 22m. Thus, it will increase countries’ energy security through reliance on an indigenous, inexhaustible and mostly import-independent resources, enhance sustainability, reduce pollution, lower the costs of mitigating climate change, and keep fossil fuel prices lower than other. These advantages are globally introduced and acceptable. KEYWORDS: Solar Power, Irrigation, Crops, Gangetic Plains & Renewable Energy Received: Nov 24, 2017; Accepted: Dec 15, 2017; Published: Jan 30, 2018; Paper Id.: IJASRFEB201814 INTRODUCTION Agriculture is the crucial and backbone of Indian economy, and the primary input to biotic community. India is a prime agricultural country where about 54.6% (census 2010-11) of country’s population based on agriculture, having a significant role in the socio-economic dignity. As per Economic Survey, agriculture is accounted for 17.4% of the GDP of the Indian economy in 2015-16. Several types of agricultural operations can be performed either by tractive work like seed-bed preparation, tillage, cultivation, harvesting, and transportation or by stationary work such as silage cutting, feed grinding, threshing, winnowing and irrigation water lifting. The pattern of energy consumption in agriculture has been changed substantially, with a major shifted from human and animal power to mechanical power like oil engines and tractors, and moving closer towards electrical power and renewable energy like solar energy, biogas, biomass and wind energy. The use of energy in agricultural operations helps to improve the knowledge for farmers on how to Original Article International Journal of Agricultural Science and Research (IJASR) ISSN (P): 2250-0057; ISSN (E): 2321-0087 Vol. 8, Issue 1, Feb 2018, 91-104 © TJPRC Pvt. Ltd.