Solar Power Water Pump

Solar Water Pumping Options

A Solar Power Water Pump is an environmentally friendly and low maintenance alternative to windmills and generators. From the burbs to the boonies, a solar water pump is a great option.

Solar Energy and Water Pumps - a winning collaboration.

solar water pump

A solar power water pump can offer an excellent alternative in areas where grid connection is pricey or impossible. Although windmills have historically been used in these areas, solar water pumps offer several advantages not the least of which is very low maintenance. They're also a viable substitute for generators, eliminating the need for burning and transporting expensive and environmentally questionable fuels.

Solar water pumps are DC pumps which means they run on DC or 12 volt energy. Because a solar panel (which powers the pump) makes DC energy the pump can be run directly from the panel eliminating the need for an inverter. Additionally a properly sized system may not require batteries which saves money and maintenance tasks.

Water tanks, cisterns or troughs can be filled in just a few hours per day which is ideal for a solar powered water pump which will function at full power for 5 or 6 hours each sunny day or at a lower volume during overcast days or when intermittent cloud temporarily obscures the sunlight.

Although the initial cost of a solar water pump (DC pump) is higher than that of an AC pump they are often the better choice particularly when combined with solar panels.

Advantages of a Solar Power Water Pump

Very little maintenance is required.
Environmentally friendly.
No transporting fuel for generators.
Can be left unattended for lengthy periods of time.
Once the system is paid for your water is free.
Can be installed in very remote areas some of which were once thought to be uninhabitable due to lack of accessibility to water.
Long life, expect a solar water pump to last twice as long as an AC pump.
Highly efficient. To replace an AC pump choose a solar power water pump of half the size. 1/4 hp DC pump replaces a 1/2 hp AC pump (and so on)

To compensate for overcast days (when the system will pump water at a reduced volume per hour), you can add battery storage or size the pump and panel a little larger than you would normally require and pump excess water into an elevated storage tank.

This makes use of another free, renewable energy source... gravity. Water stored in elevated tanks can be accessed through a gravity feed system at any time. Think of it as a low maintenance alternative to a battery bank.

A 3 - 4 day surplus of water is usually sufficient for household and livestock needs.

It's important to match the pump and panel to ensure that the pump is adequately powered for it's size. The addition of a charge controller may be advisable to prevent pump damage.

Following are some recommended applications for solar water pumps.

Swimming pool heating and filtering.
Boats ~ Liveaboard, recreational or working boats.
Mobile units ~ Bookmobile, mobile training facilities, etc..
Ranchers pump water from lakes, sloughs, dugouts, etc. to water livestock.
Farmers use solar pumps for crop irrigation.
Gardeners use solar water fountains and other aesthetic features.

Solar energy continues to make a strong impact in remote communities and is becoming much more mainstream in the urban lifestyle.

With the cost of solar energy continually moving downward and efficiency increasing, more practical applications of solar are emerging. Solar water pumping systems are an effective way of using alternative energy without having to make any sacrifices.

Urban solar power water pump applications include swimming pools, waterfalls, ponds and fountains.

Some communities have even begun to use a solar power water pump to provide city water to elevated water towers at an extremely reduced cost. The water is simply pumped into the tower during daylight and off during the night. These towers store emergency drinking water for municipalities in the event of serious drought or contamination of the municipal water supply.