Irrigation in the sand hills region near Garden City KS, the focus area for the project. Photo credit: Jacob Stid Irrigation in the sand hills region near Garden City KS, the focus area for the project. Photo credit: Jacob Stid

Using Solar Panels to Enhance Groundwater

Generating Agroecosystems Solutions
Generating Agroecosystems Solutions

Program Contact

Dr. Kathy Boomer
kboomer@foundationfar.org

Headshot of Dr. Sam Zipper, Assistant Professor, University of Kansas

Dr. Sam Zipper

University of Kansas

Year Awarded  2023

FFAR award amount   $881,526

Total award amount   $1,763,053

Location   Lawrence, KS

Program   Seeding Solutions

Matching Funders   University of Kansas Center for Research, Inc.

  • Agroecosystems

Saving a Depleting Aquifer

The High Plains Aquifer spans portions of eight states and is a major source of irrigation for one of the countries’ largest agricultural regions. Due to decades of groundwater extraction, water levels have fallen dangerously low across much of the aquifer.

Some areas of the aquifer now have an estimated remaining lifespan of years to decades. In other locations, the aquifer has been depleted to the point that no irrigation is possible. This situation is a direct threat to the $3.5 billion agricultural economy that the High Plains Aquifer supports.

Researchers at the Kansas Geological Survey/University of Kansas, Kansas State University and Michigan State University are studying the potential of placing solar panel arrays outfitted with rain collection gutters on low-productivity, non-irrigated areas of farmland. These panels would collect both solar power and rainwater, providing farmers with low- to no-cost electricity for use and sale, providing an economic support for farms while also preserving groundwater for irrigation.

Headshot of Dr. Sam Zipper, Assistant Professor, University of Kansas
Our vision is that we can sidestep the growing competition for land between farms and renewable energy by focusing solar arrays in the non-irrigated corners of fields and instead use solar power to provide economic, energy and hydrological benefits to farms. Dr. Sam Zipper
Assistant Professor, University of Kansas

Benefiting Farmers & the Environment

A common irrigation practice, center pivot, which waters crops in a circle, leaves the corners, called pivot corners, with little or no irrigation. This research seeks to make use of these pivot corners by installing solar panels in these areas to generate energy and collect rainwater. The energy can be used or sold by the farmer and the rainwater can funnel into filtered basins, allowing the water to infiltrate the soil. Ultimately, this research can put currently low productivity land to beneficial use.

The researchers hypothesize that pivot-corner solar panels can provide numerous benefits, including:

  • Enhancing water sustainability by collecting rainwater and enhancing aquifer recharge.
  • Increasing energy resiliency by expanding renewable energy production.
  • Providing economic benefits to farmers through reduced energy costs and options to sell additional electricity, as well as lower irrigation costs.

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