Carbon footprint of agricultural groundwater pumping with energy demand and supply management analysis

Abstract

Abstract Irrigation water is required for increased crop yield and production to satisfy global food demand. However, irrigation also has negative impacts, including the production of greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions from groundwater pumping. To lessen this environmental problem, management methods that minimize agricultural GHG emissions from groundwater pumping should be identified. This work aims to compare measures that decrease agricultural groundwater withdrawal GHG emissions. A comparison among different energy supply and demand management choices for groundwater pumping was made to identify the most effective measure. Results indicated that the best agricultural groundwater pumping management practices are affected by the type of pump (e.g., electricity, natural gas) and source of pumping energy (e.g., coal, natural gas, oil, wind, solar). Due to their higher operational pump efficiency (OPE), electric pumps consume less energy than natural gas pumps to extract an equal volume of groundwater under similar conditions. Nevertheless, natural gas pumps produce less GHG emissions than electric pumps using the U.S. Central and Southern Pains electricity mix. Hence, groundwater pumping energy demand management through improving the OPE)of natural gas pumps will save more GHG emissions (7600 kg CO2-eq year− 1) than switching to electric pumps using the electricity mix applied to this study (2800 kg CO2-eq year− 1). Additionally, switching to cleaner energy sources (wind and solar) can save significantly higher amounts of carbon than just improving OPE. This analysis can guide policymakers and individuals to assist in meeting global GHG emission reduction goals and targets while satisfying increasing food demand.