Solar-powered irrigation adoption in South Asia: opportunities, challenges, and policy implications

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Solar irrigation technologies offer potential sustainable and cost-effective solutions, though their environmental sustainability depends critically on institutional and regulatory frameworks to address social and environmental challenges in regions with vast solar and agricultural potential such as south Asia. This review paper evaluates (1) technological innovations, (2) opportunities and fundamental challenges and policy frameworks, and (3) socio-economic, and environment impacts on south Asia countries including Bangladesh, India, Nepal, and Pakistan. The review results indicated that solar irrigation systems demonstrated advantage in reducing operational costs compared to diesel alternatives and contributed significantly to carbon abatement. In addition, these systems provided consistent water supply independent of erratic grid power and compatible with irrigation systems for efficiency. Surplus electricity generated by solar irrigation systems can be sold back to the grid, increasing farmer income. Reliable water access can drive a transition from subsistence farming to cash crop cultivation. However, solar irrigation system’s performance is weather-dependent and without energy storage, they cannot support nighttime irrigation. When integrated with battery storage and advanced technologies such as the Internet of Things (IoT), these systems can provide irrigation during non-sunlight hours while enabling efficient, automated water management that optimizes water use and enhances crop productivity. This review highlighted key research gaps, including the need for long-term climate-informed modeling of solar irrigation systems, empirical hydrological studies of institutional models, and deeper analysis of tenancy and gender dynamics. Addressing these gaps improves solar irrigation by enabling more accurate water-resource planning under future climate conditions, strengthening institutional and groundwater management, and ensuring more equitable access for user. In conclusion, solar irrigation in South Asia should be seen as a sustainability tool that balances technological expansion with water conservation and social equity.