Solar Water Pumping
Solarize the water system, not just the pump.
Solar borehole pumping and water-transfer systems designed from actual water demand, borehole data, hydraulic head and site conditions.
Water First
Start with how much water is actually required each day.
Hydraulics Second
Calculate the real pumping head and flow requirement.
Equipment Third
Then select the pump, motor, controller and solar array.
Applications
Solar pumping for homes, farms, institutions and industry.
Borehole Solarization
Convert an existing borehole pump or install a complete solar-powered pumping system.
Agricultural Pumping
Solar pumping for farms, livestock, irrigation support and water storage.
Water Transfer
Move water between boreholes, reservoirs, tanks and distribution points.
Institutional Systems
Solar pumping for schools, hospitals, estates, churches and other facilities.
Remote Water Supply
Reliable pumping where grid electricity is unavailable or expensive to extend.
Existing System Upgrades
Assessment and improvement of underperforming or incorrectly sized solar pumping systems.
Correct Pump Sizing
Horsepower alone does not tell us whether a pump will work.
A pump must deliver the required water flow at the actual operating head. That operating point should fall within the correct region of the manufacturer's pump curve.
Daily Water Demand
How many litres or cubic metres of water are required each day?
Borehole Yield
The sustainable borehole yield limits how much water should safely be abstracted.
Water Levels
Static and pumping water levels help determine the actual lift required.
Total Dynamic Head
Elevation, pumping level, tank height and friction losses all contribute to total head.
Pipe Size & Distance
Long pipe runs and undersized pipes increase friction losses and pumping energy.
Storage Requirement
Water storage can often reduce the need for expensive electrical battery storage.
Total Dynamic Head
The pump must overcome more than borehole depth.
Total dynamic head reflects the actual pressure and elevation the pumping system must overcome while water is flowing.
Simplified Design Concept
Water as Energy Storage
Pump during the day. Store water for when it is needed.
In many solar pumping applications, storing water in a tank or reservoir is simpler and more economical than storing electricity in batteries.
Protect the Investment
A pump needs more than panels and a controller.
Protection and control systems help prevent avoidable damage and allow the installation to operate automatically.
Need a Pumping Quote?
Send us the borehole and water information.
If a test-pumping report is available, send it to us. It normally contains much of the information required for proper pump selection.
Useful information:
- ●Location
- ●Borehole depth
- ●Static water level
- ●Pumping water level
- ●Tested borehole yield
- ●Required litres per day
- ●Distance to tank / delivery point
- ●Elevation or tank height
- ●Existing pipe size
- ●Existing pump details, if any
- ●Borehole test-pumping report
Our Pumping Design Process
From water demand to a commissioned solar pumping system.
Water Requirement
Establish daily demand and required flow rate.
Borehole & Site Data
Review yield, water levels, elevation, pipe route and storage.
Hydraulic Design
Calculate total dynamic head and determine the required pump duty point.
Pump Selection
Select a pump that can deliver the required flow at the calculated head.
Solar Design
Size the solar array, controller and protection around the selected pumping system.
Commission
Test flow, controls, protections and actual operating performance.
Existing Pumping System?
Pump not running or producing enough water?
Solar Pumping Questions
Before selecting the pump.
Can any borehole pump be solarized?
Many AC and dedicated solar pumps can operate from solar through an appropriate solar pumping inverter or controller, but compatibility, motor characteristics and hydraulic duty must be checked before conversion.
How many solar panels does a borehole pump need?
The answer depends on pump power, controller requirements, operating voltage, required pumping hours and available solar energy. Panel quantity should be calculated from the complete system rather than selected from horsepower alone.
Do solar borehole systems need batteries?
Often they do not. Where possible, daytime solar energy pumps water into a storage tank and the stored water becomes the practical form of energy storage. Batteries may be considered where pumping is required outside solar hours.
Why is my solar pump producing less water than expected?
Possible causes include incorrect pump selection, excessive head, pipe friction, low borehole yield, insufficient solar input, controller settings, voltage problems or deterioration of the pump or motor.
Can SolarAxis assess an existing pumping system?
Yes. Existing systems can be assessed for pump duty, solar capacity, controller settings, pipe losses, protection and actual water output.
Solarize Your Water Supply