Solar PV water pumping system for rural development in Nepal: problems and prospects

The bulk of Nepal´s rural population do not have access to piped drinking water. It is reported that less than 10% of the rural population has access to drinking water. Reducing the time women have to spend in water collection is one of the policy aims for expanding water supply. Easy access to drinking water supply significantly changes the physical quality of life index. The Government´s plan is to provide access to water supply for the entire population by the end of the century. This will be difficult to achieve unless renewable energy technologies such as solar photovoltaic water pumping systems are used where other cheaper alternatives are not feasible. Although PV water pumping systems have high initial costs, they require virtually no maintenance, require no fuel and thus save foreign exchange. They are easy to install and operate, have no moving parts and hence are highly reliable and durable and are modular in nature for future expansion. PV systems are found to be competitive with conventional diesel generator systems. Despite these facts, policy makers are still not convinced that solar PV water pumping systems can support rural development. This paper also gives reasons for the failures of some solar PV water pumping projects in Nepal. Development of solar electricity totalling about 800 kWp in Nepal is briefly highlighted. Basic preconditions are identified for the successful operation of solar PV water pumping systems and the findings of successful solar PV water pumping systems are highlighted with specific reference to socio-economic impacts in the rural society