Solar Water Pump

Solar water pump definition

A solar water pump is a mechanical pump powered by electricity generated using photovoltaic panels. It is popularly referred to as a solar water pumping system because it requires several key components to work. The critical constituents of a functional water pump include; 

• A solar panel array
• A mechanical DC water pump
• Photovoltaic cables
• A fuse box
• A solar charger control

You can employ a solar water pump in various applications, including crop irrigation and drinking water supply. Currently, it is the most suitable option for all your pumping needs because it has several benefits. It is essentially more efficient to operate and less costly to maintain than traditional fossil fuel-powered pumps. More importantly, it is environmentally friendly primarily because it runs on renewable solar energy. How exactly does it work?

The solar water pump’s working principle 

When most of us hear of a solar water pump, we assume it is pretty challenging to use. I can confidently tell you that its usage is pretty straightforward once you install all the necessary components. Figure 1 below offers an outline of the main things you need to have in place for your solar water pump to work efficiently;

Figure 1: Components of a functional solar water pump system

The solar array absorbs solar energy and converts it into electric energy. The solar water pump’s inverter converts the DC  electric current output generated by the photovoltaic system into AC. The AC electric current powers the pump and propels water from the source to the intended destination. 

It is also crucial to note that the inverters regulate the electricity output frequency and voltage instantaneously. These regulatory actions correspond to variations in sunlight intensity. In simple terms, the system switches to supplementary energy automatically when sunlight intensity weakens. Is this not enough to convince you that a solar water pumping system is worth its investment?

Classifications of solar water pumps

There are several classifications of solar water pumps that you can choose from depending on your specific needs. The main varieties of solar water pumps include;

• The submersible solar water pump

This type of pump is ideal for deep water sources such as wells. It can lift up to 650 feet of water provided the sunlight energy can generate sufficient electricity to power the pump. Consequently, it is advisable to pump and store water when the sun’s intensity is at its best.

• The surface solar water pump

This pumping system is suitable for shallow water sources, including streams, storage tanks, and ponds. They can comfortably lift water with a depth of not more than 20 feet. If you intend to draw water beyond this depth, it would be best to settle for submersible pumps. 

Manufacturers

In the simplest terms, manufacturing is the process of producing actual goods or items/products through the use of raw materials, human labour, use of machinery, tools and other processes such as chemical formulation. This process usually starts with product designing and raw material selection, turning them into an actual product output. 

Solar Products Manufacturers and Factories

In terms of solar, manufacturing encompasses the fabrication or production of materials across the solar market chain. The most common product being manufactured by solar companies are the solar photovoltaic (PV) panels, which are made with several subcomponents such as solar wafers, cells, glass, back sheets, and frames. Before a solar panel comes into life, it will undergo a lot of processes, from designing, modelling, choosing what raw materials to use and then assembling them all to make the final product.

More Than Just Solar Panels

Aside from the solar panels, solar companies have many other manufactured products that are required to make solar energy systems work smoothly, like solar inverters, batteries, combiner boxes, and racking and tracking structures.

Having a solar manufacturing sector makes a big difference in supplying affordable solar energy in different areas. Aside from maintaining the rising domestic and global demand for cleaner and renewable energy, they also help the economy grow, particularly the solar industry. If you are in search of a reliable solar manufacturing company, checking out our solar outsourcing company, SolarFeeds, would help you get easy access to reliable information, news, data and a list of solar manufacturers that can help you with solar products.

Zimbabwe

Solar Market Outlook in Zimbabwe

The Zimbabwe government has recently launched its National Renewable Energy Policy. They have obtained assistance from the World Bank in order to procure large scale solar PV projects. The World Bank has opened a tender via the African Power Platform in order to boost the renewable energy capacity. 

Solar is the primary source of energy among independent power projects in Zimbabwe. As of July 2021, there were seven new solar PV projects that were installed with a solar capacity of 66 MW. These projects are expected to become ready and fully functional by the end of 2021, which should boost the country’s solar and renewable energy industry. 

The new solar developments are also proof that there are adequate regulations in place in Zimbabwe designed to benefit investors and consumers alike. The government is hoping to maintain policies that will encourage more investors in the future. 

By the end of 2020, Zimbabwe has reached 17 MW capacity in solar installations. They are targeting to reach 1GW of capacity by 2025. 

Solar Energy Equipment Supply Capacity in Zimbabwe

As of now, there are limited options for suppliers and distributors within Zimbabwe. Individual and commercial consumers of solar installations do have access to global suppliers, as well as those from neighboring countries. 

Top 8 Major Seaports & Logistics in Zimbabwe

There are various ports and logistics companies operating in Zimbabwe to maximize the ability to transport solar power equipment. The top ports available in Zimbabwe are

• Chiredzi,
• Thompson Junction,
• Rusape,
• Harare,
• Victoria Falls,
• Mutare,
• Bata, 
• Hwange.