Advantages of using a Solar Pump for your Farm

A reliable and clean water supply is an essential need in Kenya but a large number of people currently lack this basic provision. Solar water pumps is a socially and environmentally attractive technology to supply water in Kenya. Especially if the need for water is in remote locations in Kenya which are beyond the reach of power lines, solar power is often the economically preferred technology.

Solar water pumps can supply water to locations which are beyond the reach of power lines in Kenya. Commonly, such places rely on human or animal power or on diesel engines for their water supply. Solar water pumps can replace the current pump systems and result in both socio-economic benefits as well as climate related benefits. The water supplied by the solar water pump can be used to irrigate crops, water livestock or provide potable drinking water.

A solar water pump system is essentially an electrical pump system in which the electricity is provided by one or several solar (PhotoVoltaic) panels. A typical solar powered pumping system consists of a solar panel array that powers an electric motor, which in turn powers the solar pump. The water is often pumped from a borehole, pond or river into a storage tank that provides a gravity feed, so energy storage is not needed for these systems

Using a solar powered water pump is the most sensible invention in the farm: Automatic irrigation powered by the sun is pure genius. You need to water most when it’s sunny, so use the sunshine to pump the water! For farmers in Kenya, using a solar pump reduces a lot of headache challenges that comes with farming. The cost of pumping water usually affects a lot of farmers in Kenya who are fighting to make some profit from their farm.

Taking a look at the table below, we will compare different water pumping methods used in Kenya against solar pumps and see how they perform:

Solar Powered Water Pumps VS other Remote Watering Options
Pumping Technology	Advantages	Disadvantages
Solar Pump	Low maintenance No fuel costs or spills Easy to install Simple and reliable Unattended operation System can be made to be mobile	Potentially high initial costs Lower output in cloudy weather Must have good sun exposure between 9 AM and 3 PM
Diesel or gas	Moderate capital costs Can be portable Extensive experience available Easy to install	Needs maintenance and replacement Maintenance often inadequate, reducing lifetime of system Fuel often expensive and supply intermittent Noise, dirt and fume problems Site visits necessary
Windmill	Potentially long lasting Works well in windy site	High maintenance and costly repair Difficult to find parts Seasonal disadvantages Need special tools for installation Labor intensive No wind, no power
Gravity System	Very low cost Low maintenance No fuel costs or spills Easy to install Simple and reliable	Only feasible in a small number places
Ram (Hydram Pump)	Very low cost Low maintenance No fuel costs or spills Easy to install Simple and reliable	Requires moving water as a operational necessity
Hauling	Lowest initial costs Excellent mobility	Very labor intensive

Try out our GF1 Submersible Solar Pump and start saving today. Order by clicking the order button below: