Solar Water Pumping in Africa

Solar Water Pumping System– Africa

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Getting water to the right place is both energy intensive and costly. In East Africa in general, and Tanzania, and Kenya in particular, providing energy to (especially rural) areas for water pumping purposes can be logistically difficult and expensive.

As such, solar water pumping systems are rapidly developing to replace old-fashioned, labor or fuel-intensive pump systems. TrueWay Tec solar water pumping systems that take care of the entire pumping process: from pumping water out of the ground to point of end use (drinking, domestic, or irrigation).

The advantages of using solar as a power source to pump water are plenty. For starters, it needs relatively little maintenance. Even in remote locations, you can be assured that your system will function properly and keep doing its job. Solar water pump systems are rapidly replacing human, grid, or diesel-powered pumps and are frequently used to provide water to villages, the hospitality industry, and the agricultural sector. It is financially viable as maintenance and fuel costs will decrease, while simultaneously using clean and reliable renewable energy harnessed from the sun. Moreover, the World Bank has just released information that is intended to educate on the cost-effectiveness and sustainability of solar water pumping: www.worldbank.org/solarpumping.

Solar pumping products

TrueWay Tec has multiple solar pump products: solar direct pumps, solar pump inverters, AC submersible pumps, solar pool pumps, solar water transfer pumps, etc.

Brands used

Solar pump inverter: INVT, USFULL, Phaeton, SOLARTECH, VOKEK, VEICHI, DELIXI, etc.

Solar power direct pumps: Taifu, Leo, Samking, Handuro, DIFFUL, SolarTech, etc.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

How does the solar pumping system work?

The photovoltaic (PV) effect produces the flow of electrons. The electrons are excited by particles of light and find the attached electrical circuit the easiest path to travel from one side of the solar cell to the other. Envision a piece of metal such as the side panel of a car. In the sun the metal warms, caused by the excitement of electrons, bouncing back and forth, creating friction, and therefore, heat. The solar cell merely takes a percentage of these electrons and directs them to flow in a path. This flow of electrons is, by definition, electricity. The wiring in the solar module collects the electricity and supplies it to the DC pump controller and motor, in turn, pumping water under direct sunlight. At night, or in cloudy conditions, electrical production and pumping are decreased or cease completely.

Does a solar water pumping system require batteries?

While batteries may seem like a good idea, they have a number of disadvantages in pumping systems and reduce the overall efficiency.

The solar module operating voltage is dictated by the battery bank and is reduced substantially from levels that are achieved by operating the pump directly in sunlight. Batteries also require additional maintenance, adding costs and complexity. For systems that need to pump water continuously (more than what daily sunlight allows), there are two solutions. The pumping system can be coupled with existing electricity lines (if available) or hooked up with a generator to provide water in off-sun hours for a hybrid solution. Ideally, however, we suggest installing a system that pumps sufficient amounts of water during sun hours, where excess water can be stored in tanks (the storage tanks act as a battery in themselves).

For a Solar Water Pump, where and do you place the solar array?

The array of solar modules should be placed in a sunny spot where no shading occurs. Avoid placing the array near large trees or buildings, this could substantially reduce power output.

For these reasons we typically mount the solar modules on a pole or ground mount above any obstacles. To reduce costs it should be placed near the water source, if possible. To reduce the risk of theft or tampering, we usually advise mounting high or in populated areas with ample light in the evenings.