What can a solar pump be used for?

Livestock watering: Their water sources are scattered over vast pastures with few power lines, and the cost of transportation and maintenance is high. Some ranchers use solar water pumps to distribute pipes of several kilometers (more than 5 kilometers). Others use portable systems to move them from one source of water to another.

Irrigation: Solar water pumps are used in small farms, orchards, vineyards and gardens. Direct pumping (without battery) is the most economical to pump, storing water in a tank and distributing it by gravity flow. In the case where pressurization is required, the battery stabilizes the voltage to maintain consistent flow and distribution and eliminates the need for a storage tank.

Household water: Solar water pumps are used in private homes, villages, medical clinics, etc. Pumps can be powered by their own PV arrays or by main systems that power lamps and appliances. A water pressure can be provided using a raised storage tank, or a second pump, referred to as a booster pump. Alternatively, the main battery system can provide storage instead of cans. When the sun is scarce, the rain can supplement the pumping of solar energy. To design a system, it helps to view the entire picture and consider all the resources.

There is no limit to how large a solar pump can be built. However, in small devices where the internal combustion engine is the least economical, they tend to be the most competitive. The smallest solar pump requires less than 150 watts and can lift water from a depth of more than 200 feet (65 meters) at 1.5 gallons per minute (5.7 liters). You may be surprised at the performance of such a small system. It can lift 900 gallons (3,400 liters) on a 10-hour sunny day. This is enough to supply several families, or 30 cows, or 40 fruit trees。

Slow solar pumping allows us to use low water production. The cost of long pipes is also reduced because small pipes can be used. The length of the pipe has little effect on the energy required for pumping, so the water can be pushed to a great distance at a lower cost. Small solar pumps may be installed without heavy equipment or special technology.

The most effective way to reduce the cost of solar pumping is to reduce water demand through protection. For example, drip irrigation can reduce consumption to less than half of the traditional method. In the home, low-water toilets can reduce household use by half. Water efficiency is a major consideration in the economics of solar pumping.