Navitas Semiconductor and Virtual Forest Collaborate to Propel India’s Agricultural Sector Towards Solar-Powered Sustainability
Apr 20, 2024: Navitas Semiconductor, a forefront player in next-gen power semiconductor solutions, has teamed up with Virtual Forest, a renowned electronics design firm in India, to pioneer a transformative shift towards solar-powered irrigation in the country’s agricultural landscape. By leveraging Navitas’ cutting-edge GaNFast™ power integrated circuits (IC) technology, Virtual Forest aims to revolutionize farming practices with sustainable, off-grid irrigation solutions.
The joint initiative spearheaded by Navitas and Virtual Forest addresses a critical need for efficient, eco-friendly irrigation systems that mitigate reliance on polluting diesel generators and cumbersome electrical infrastructure. At the heart of this collaboration lies a powerful 3 hp (2,250W) solar-powered irrigation pump, equipped with Navitas’ GaNFast™ technology and maximum power point tracking (MPPT) capabilities.
Designed to lift water from rivers and streams to farmland, the Virtual Forest solar pump harnesses the sun’s energy to deliver robust, emission-free performance directly at the point of need. With remote access functionality enabled by quad-band IoT connectivity, the pump ensures optimized water usage through intelligent analytics, thereby conserving precious groundwater resources and enhancing agricultural productivity.
Omer Basith, CEO of Virtual Forest, underscored the significance of this partnership in driving a sustainable agricultural revolution in India. He emphasized the potential of off-grid solutions to bolster food security and environmental stewardship, aligning with Virtual Forest’s vision of creating a greener, more resilient future.
Navitas Semiconductor’s GaNSense™ half-bridge power ICs play a pivotal role in the solar pump’s efficiency and reliability. Alessandro Squeri, Senior Sales Director at Navitas, commended Virtual Forest’s swift integration of GaNSense™ technology, highlighting its user-friendly design and robust performance in demanding environments.
With the Indian solar pump market poised for exponential growth, projected to reach $1.5 billion by 2026, the collaboration between Navitas Semiconductor and Virtual Forest holds immense promise for transforming agricultural practices and advancing renewable energy adoption in India. Through innovative technology solutions, the partners aim to drive sustainable development and usher in a new era of solar-powered prosperity for farming communities nationwide.
