Solar pumping: An introduction and update on the technology, performance, costs, and economics. World Bank technical paper

Although the number of units in the field is still small, solar photovoltaic powered pumping systems offer many advantages over the more traditional technologies. Because there are few moving parts, maintenance is reduced to a minimum, and reliability is very high. Also, because the time of greatest water demand usually coincides with the maximum daily solar energy, the available pumping power is well matched to the demand. Solar pumping was first introduced into the field in the late nineteen-seventies, and since manufacturers have refined their products to give considerable increases in performance and reliability. The steady fall in prices of solar photovoltaic (PV) panels means that solar pumping is becoming economic for an increasingly wide range of applications. This guide is written for the potential user to give a simple background to PV pumping technology and to help to identify the situations in which solar pumping should be considered. The paper illustrates typical applications and reviews current technology in solar pumping. It also gives information dealing with the range of currently available equipment as well as the practical aspects of choosing a pumping system.