Key Highlights:
- CEC Report Publication: The California Energy Commission (CEC) has published AgMonitor’s project report on programmable irrigation and fertigation.
- Improved Irrigation Practices: Farms participating in the project improved irrigation precision from 70% to over 90% during the 2019–2023 period.
- Energy Savings: Findings suggest that optimizing irrigation schedules during off-peak hours can reduce electricity costs by up to 30%.
- Grid Contributions: The project supported grid stability by reducing over 10 Megawatts during the 2022 heat wave.
- Groundwater Management Tools: Data from the platform was used to document water usage and recharge practices for compliance with state regulations.
CEC Releases AgMonitor Report
The California Energy Commission (CEC) has released a report detailing findings from AgMonitor’s project, “Programmable Irrigation and Fertigation to Increase Energy Efficiency and Grid Stability in Disadvantaged Agricultural Communities.” The AI-driven platform integrates multiple data sets to simplify tasks such as irrigation scheduling and solar panel maintenance, providing answers in English and Spanish.
Irrigation Precision Improvements
According to the report, participating farms improved irrigation precision from an average of 70% to over 90% between 2019 and 2023. This improvement aligns with ongoing efforts to address increasing costs for water, labor, electricity, and fertilizer in California agriculture.
Jonah Steinbuck, Director of Energy Research and Development at the CEC, commented on the potential benefits of such innovations: “Using advanced data analysis to improve energy, water, and fertilizer efficiency not only lowers costs and resource consumption but also creates new revenue streams for farmers through load flexibility.”
Energy Cost Management and Peak Savings
The project found that optimizing irrigation to occur during off-peak hours could reduce electricity bills by up to 30%. This approach aims to help mitigate peak penalties associated with operating large appliances during high-demand periods, which have become more pronounced due to California’s renewable energy integration.
During the 2022 heat wave, AgMonitor reported contributing to a reduction of over 10 Megawatts of grid load.
Implementation in Commercial Farming
Olam Farming Inc., a participant in the project, applied the solution across ranches in the San Joaquin Valley. Zac Ellis, Director of Agronomy at Olam Farming Inc., stated: “AgMonitor provided options to irrigate off-peak… We saved $100,000 in one summer.”
Advancements in Groundwater Management
AgMonitor’s methods have been adopted by the State Water Resources Control Board as part of accepted practices for measuring groundwater extraction. The system was used by Terranova Ranch to monitor water usage and recharge aquifers. Don Cameron, President of the California Department of Food and Agriculture (CDFA), noted: “This will provide growers with a low-cost, accurate way to measure their water use and provide water accounting for SGMA purposes.”
Focus on Sustainable Practices
AgMonitor’s platform integrates data from various sources to support agricultural efficiency, particularly in irrigation and groundwater management. According to CEO Olivier Jerphagnon: “It is important to give tools to growers to save money while they transition to renewable sources of energy and balance water resources.”