Photovoltaic water pumping-Indian experience

The design aspects, system configuration, field performance, and future improvement programs of a stand-alone low power consumption water pumping system for drinking water supply and micro irrigation applications is described. The system consists of a 300-360 Wp solar photovoltaic panel coupled to a surface-mounted DC motor pump set. The surface centrifugal pump is designed for a suction head of 4-5 m. The system is capable of delivering about 30-40 m³ of water on a clear sunny day for a total head of 5-6 m. The findings of a performance evaluation of these pumping systems are also presented. The authors conclude that the low-power water pumping system described is ideally suited for a 2-5 m water table area.