Engines of 100,000 agro-wells will be electrified in the near future, with more than $1.6 billion in private investment, director for energy efficiency at Iran Fuel Conservation Organization said.
The project's main objective is to eliminate diesel-fueled engines by converting them into electric motors, Mehdi Sharif was quoted by Fars News Agency as saying Monday. The Economy Council's directive stipulates three methods to this end.
The main method, which has been put into practice in recent years, is to make use of national power grid to provide electricity for the engines.
Another method is to utilize gas-fueled engines to supply electricity to a network of wells located in the same geographical area, where the investor determines installation of gas-fueled engines will provide the wells with electricity, given the proximity to gas distribution networks.
Another practice suggested by the Economy Council involves installation of solar panels, taking into account the amount of energy that could be exploited from the sun and the number of hours of sunlight receivable on an average day.
"On average, around 16,500-17,000 liters of diesel are consumed by each well per annum," Sharif said, noting that diesel consumption depends on the well's irrigation capacity and the cultivated area.
Private investment in energy conservation projects is to be reimbursed by the Oil Ministry through revenues generated from saving other fuels, such as diesel.
Electricity is a clean, economical and dependable source of power for irrigation. Electric motors can provide years of service when properly selected, operated and maintained. A well-designed motor can convert over 90% of its input energy into useful power for decades.
