Solar Water Pumping System

Can the power of the sun be used to produce water? Yes, nature has its own way through the water cycle. But thanks to technological innovations, humans have achieved this capability too, through the advent of what is called solar-powered water pump.

As the name suggests, a solar water pumping system is a mechanism for pulling water from resources such as lakes, rivers, wells, and underground sources and making it available for surface uses such as irrigation, drinking, and industrial use. Unlike traditional pumps, such a water pump uses the energy absorbed from the sun via solar panels. Thus, such pumps do not depend upon electricity or petroleum to power them, making them a clean and sustainable option. 

Typically, such a system contains an array of solar panels, which engage photovoltaics, that is, conversion of light energy into electricity, the water pump that uses this electricity to pull out the water, and the source of the water itself. 

There are numerous advantages of a solar-powered water pumping system, which includes the following – 

• It is a clean and green method, as it uses a sustainable and renewable form of energy, namely the sun. Simply replacing a diesel or electric pump with a solar-powered one can save many watts of electricity and petroleum. 
• Such a solar-powered water pump is also a solid future investment. Petroleum resources, which are also used to generate electricity, are depleting at an alarming rate, and many in fact soon be out of reach for many individuals and businesses. On the other hand, solar power continues to be free and very easily available in a tropical country like India.
• Such a system is also a great investment in terms of its cost. Continuous technological advances have made solar panels extremely cheap, and combining them with the best quality water pumps is a guaranteed money saver. An investor will soon find their money coming back to them through saved expenses on electricity or petroleum for the pump.
• Solar water pumps also tend to save money and effort by being low maintenance. Due to lesser moving parts and the solid technology of solar panels, once a pump is installed, it becomes virtually unnecessary to keep anything more than a cursory eye on it.
•  Agriculture often requires a constant water supply, but the costs of producing and taking this water to the fields can pull down the bottom line of a farmer drastically. Hence, solar water pumps for agriculture can not only aid farmers in becoming self-sustaining, but it can also help them earn better wages with the lesser effort put in.
• Additionally, the energy infrastructure in India continues to lack in many farming districts. Such, solar pumps for agriculture in India ensure that farmers and their produce do not suffer due to the lack of, or unreliability of the electrical infrastructure. 

All of these advantages make a solar water pumping system a very attractive, and indeed a rational choice for any space, especially agricultural. However, this investment can be a little tricky to nail. Solar arrays need to be of proper size and specifications to ensure that the pump can function effectively.  The water pumps themselves can be of different types. Deep well pumps, submersible pumps, and surface pump few such examples, all of which suit different locations and provide different solutions to one’s water fix. In such a situation, any poor decision or ill-thought-out plan can lead to massive losses.