Solar Pumps: What, How and Why?
If you need to supply water beyond the reach of power lines, then solar power can be the perfect solution. New technologies are coming up and solar pumps are a flexible and easy way to produce energy, especially for those living off the electricity grids. Using the sun’s energy in water pumping systems can accelerate the development of agriculture in remote areas, but solar water pumps can be found in a wide range of applications, including the energy industry, residential and commercial properties and more.
How Does a Solar System Work?
Solar water pumps are a simple, clean and energy-efficient alternative to traditional electric and fuel-driven pumps. They are powering more and more agriculture projects these days thanks to their immense potential for productive use and agricultural productivity.
Many different combinations can help you form the perfect solar pump for your specific needs. Whether you’ll be using it at home, in your garden, farm, reservoir, pond, direct irrigation system, or elsewhere, you can choose from a wide range of solar pumps designed to withstand the harsh Australian conditions. However, you need to consider the most important parts of a solar pump to ensure efficiency and effectiveness, such as the following.
Water Pump
This is an important part of a water pumping system. There are different types of water pumps, such as the following.
Submersible Pump
It pumps water from underground water sources such as boreholes and shallow wells.
Circulator Pump
It circulates the water to keep it warm and prepared for use and provides a continuous water supply.
Booster Pump
It provides the pressure needed to pump water from a storage tank and deliver it to the facility.
Solar Panels
These are a key part of the solar pump and they generate electrical energy by separating electrons from atoms by permitting photons and light arrays and create electricity throughout the process. They are mounted on a post or a frame.
Solar Batteries
The batteries of a solar water pump store the charge produced by the solar panel. When there is sunlight, the energy produced by the solar panel supplies to a load and a battery.
Pump Controllers
The pump controller (https://www.editorstop.com/which-solar-controller-is-right-for-you-mppt-or-pwm/) is an electronic device that can adjust the parameters of the pump system to meet your needs. It can be sued to set an extraction schedule for the water, which can maximise the pump life.
Invertors
The inverter converts direct current (DC) into alternating current (AC). This transformation is required for a variety of electrical equipment, including water pumps. The invertor is an important part of the solar water pump and on cloudy or dark days, it has the role of a high-performance backup source of energy, allowing the pump to run continuously without solar energy.
Advantages of Solar Water Pumps
The upfront cost may be seen as a disadvantage sometimes and can be a barrier for some farmers, but if you look at the long-term perspective, then you may realise that a solar water pump is the cheapest option when it comes to irrigation during sunny and dry weather. When the sun shines, it feeds the irrigation system and feeds the crops which are dependent on water in hot weather as a large quantity of energy is released at the time when it’s needed the most.
If you think about how long will you need your water pump to last and consider the costs of maintenance and fuel over that time, the solar water pump may be the best solution as it is more energy-efficient and has a long lifespan, so the financial benefits can vastly overweigh the initial cost.
Lower Electricity Bills
The energy of the sun powers the water pump, meaning that your electricity bills will get lower. Things are changing these days and new technologies are on the rise. They offer cheaper costs for what you need and make your life easier by making your daily tasks more convenient.
Easy Installation Process
Installing a solar water pump is simple and easy and can be done specifically to the needs of your farm. There is no need for special plumbing, wiring or an electrical outlet.
Low Maintenance Required
As previously mentioned, the initial acquisition of equipment can be more costly than other pumping alternatives out there, but a solar water pump requires low maintenance and less labour. It won’t run out of fuel, so you won’t need to travel to the closest petrol station whenever you need water for your daily tasks. Keep in mind that the ease of maintenance applies to the surface solar pumps, which are not submerged in water as they don’t need to be kept watertight and can be repaired with some basic tools.
Investing in a solar pump with a good warranty period is a smart choice as it won’t require a lot of servicing. However, it’s essential to keep the solar panels clean at all times because when they are cleaned properly, they can produce more energy.
Environmentally Friendly
Solar water pumps are sustainable and use renewable energy, which makes them a part of an environmentally friendly approach. In times when the entire world is switching to solar, using the sun’s energy in a water pumping system can be beneficial for many different areas, both poor and developed.