IoT-Enabled Wind Energy Modelling for Irrigation in Rural and Remote Farming Communities of Babura Local Government

DOI

No Doi

Published In

Year 2025 · Volume 2 · Issue 3

Published Online

September-December 2025

Pages

01-07

Article Type

Original Article

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The pursuit of sustainable energy for agriculture in Nigeria requires localized renewable energy solutions, particularly in underserved rural and remote communities. This study presents an IoT-enabled wind energy modelling framework for powering irrigation systems in Babura Local Government, Jigawa State, Nigeria. Five years of meteorological data from the Nigerian Meteorological Agency (NiMet) and one year of site-specific measurements were analyzed, with wind speed distribution characterized using the Weibull probability model. The performance of small-scale wind turbines (1–5 kW) was simulated at hub heights of 10 m, 20 m, and 30 m. The irrigation load profile considered pumps with an average demand of 1.2 kW, operating mainly during the dry season. IoT integration employed soil moisture sensors, wireless data acquisition, and GSM-based control to optimize water use. Results indicate an average annual wind speed of 4.8 m/s at 10 m, yielding a power density of 92 W/m² at 20 m. A 2.5 kW turbine produced about 3,100 kWh annually, sufficient to meet the irrigation demand of two medium-sized farms. Comparative analysis with Katsina (5.5 m/s) and Wudil (4.2 m/s) shows Babura’s wind potential is moderate yet suitable for decentralized irrigation. IoT-based monitoring reduced water consumption by 22%, aligning with international studies in India and Kenya. The levelized cost of wind-powered irrigation was estimated at $0.18/kWh, compared to $0.34/kWh for diesel pumps. The study concludes that wind-powered irrigation integrated with IoT is a viable, sustainable, and scalable solution for rural farming in Babura, recommending pilot deployments, farmer training, and policy incentives