The Benefits of a Solar Powered Water Pump
Solar water pumps run on solar energy from the sun. They are used to supply irrigation water in farms, orchards, vineyards and gardens.
They can be powered directly from PV modules without batteries, or they can use batteries to stabilize the voltage for consistent flow and distribution. Storage tanks are usually required to store the water under pressure for times when sun is not available.
Energy Savings
A solar powered water pump can reduce the energy bill of a home or farm significantly. They are powered by the sun and do not require any external power sources, which can be expensive, especially in remote areas far from utility lines. Adding to this, they eliminate the need for fuel costs and maintenance on generators and can help people avoid costly long-term electricity expenses.
Unlike traditional electric pumps, solar ones are not susceptible to power outages. They can continue to pump water throughout the day, even in cloudy weather and can be equipped with an appropriate storage tank for a backup supply. The pump is controlled by a solar panel, controller and battery. Solar pumps are usually surface-mounted, but they can also be submersible.
They can be used for livestock watering, pond aeration, house irrigation and other uses where well water is available. They are usually able to pump up to 50m and can be powered by both direct and indirect sunlight.
Solar water pumps are particularly useful in rural and remote areas where regular city-like pipeline systems are not available, but where the need for consistent and reliable water supplies is high. Women in these communities spend a significant amount of their time gathering water, and the use of solar pumps can allow them to allocate more time to other activities, such as education or food-gathering (WaterAid, 2001). Additionally, these units can offset infrastructural limitations and operational/maintenance costs by using a sustainable, cost-effective source of energy.
Low Maintenance Costs
For rural communities and small farms that are often off the grid, access to affordable clean water is an issue. Many are dependent on diesel fueled systems that can be expensive to operate and difficult to maintain. Solar power offers a viable alternative.
The operating principle behind a solar powered water pump is quite simple. A solar photovoltaic panel (PV) absorbs the sun’s radiant energy and converts it into electricity to run the pump and provide household water pressure. A battery system is sometimes solar powered water pump added to supply energy during non-sunny periods. A float switch is also installed to automatically turn off the pump when the water tank is full.
In order to operate a solar powered water pump, you will need a number of components including the solar PV panels, a controller, an electric motor and a water pump. Detailed system design is crucial to ensure the correct sizing of all elements to match your needs and ensure optimal performance.
One of the best aspects about a solar powered water pump is that it’s relatively low maintenance. While it’s a good idea to wash the PV panels regularly to keep them clear, you’ll only need to replace the different parts of the system about every two or three years. This makes a solar power water pump an economical and valuable appliance for rural areas and off-grid farmers.
No Fuel Costs or Spills
Solar water pumps run purely on sun energy, which is free of charge. This is especially important for people who live off-the-grid or rely on backup generators.
A solar powered pump can be installed anywhere with sunshine and an accessible water source. This includes remote locations without access to power lines, ranches or farms and private residences.
There are two main types of solar water pumps: surface pumps and submersible pumps. Surface pumps are used in streams, storage tanks and shallow wells or ponds. They can lift up to 650ft and are perfect for livestock watering, pond aeration, or home water systems.
Submersible solar water pumps are lowered underwater to provide drinking water in lakes, ponds and water tanks. These pumps can also lift water to 650ft, but are more suited to deeper, undrilled wells and are often used in agriculture, irrigation, and industrial applications.
Most solar powered water pumps can be hooked up to batteries for energy storage, but this adds expense and complexity to the system. It is more economical to connect the pump directly to the PV solar panels, use a non-pressurized tank or cistern and distribute the water by gravity flow.
To optimize a solar water pumping system, it is important to ensure that the solar panels are tilted correctly. This will maximize the amount of energy that is generated and prevent the pump from running at less than full capacity.
Environmentally Friendly
While solar water pumps are a positive step towards preserving groundwater supplies, they must be used with caution. Unfettered access to this type of pumping technology can lead to the indiscriminate exploitation of groundwater and deplete it faster than it can be replenished. This can threaten the water resources of current as well as future generations and must be dealt with accordingly.
Unlike traditional pumps that require grid or fuel power, solar powered water pump systems operate independently of the electrical system. This makes SOLAR INVERTER them ideal for remote or off-grid areas where electricity supply is limited or expensive.
They are also easy to maintain and have fewer mechanical components that can break down. These factors result in a lower cost of ownership than traditional pumps.
The size of a solar water pumping system depends on the amount of water needed, the depth of the well and the energy demand in terms of gallons per day. The best systems will have tanks large enough to store several days worth of water for use on cloudy or rainy days.
For pumps operating directly from PV modules, a non-pressurized tank or cistern is usually used to store the water for usage at times when the sun is not shining. For systems that use gravity for water pressure, a tower may be required to reach the heights necessary to obtain reasonable water pressure.