How Do Solar Water Pumps Work in Kenya

Solar power water pumps in Kenya work by converting the sun’s rays (photons) to electricity that will operate the water pump. It uses solar panels to collect the photons (units of light) from sunlight, producing the direct current (DC) that provides the energy for the motor to pump water out from its source. As such, the pumped water can be used for domestic use, agricultural use like irrigation, swimming pools and other applications.

The key solar-powered water pump system components include:

Solar panels

Also called the solar photovoltaic (PV) system, solar panels in Kenya take the sun’s photons and convert them into electricity in three basic steps.

Solar cells within solar panels absorb photons from the sun and convert them into DC electricity.
An inverter converts DC electricity to AC (alternating current) electricity.
This electricity is used to operate the water pump.

Water pump motor

The water pump motor takes water from any available water source, including from underground or another water source, that can be used for irrigation, household, or other purposes.

Inverter

Water pumps run on AC electrical current, so the inverter converts the electricity from the original DC to usable AC.

Pipes

Pipes will transport water from the original source to wherever it needs to go; a purification system, a holding tank, etc.

Water tank

The water pumping system will often include a water tank to store water that may be used when sunshine isn’t available.

Pump controllers

The controllers regulate the water pump and allow it to be turned on and off. They can increase the life of the water pump by protecting it from electrical irregularities or motor damage if it keeps running when a water source runs dry. Controllers also maximize water delivery.

Now that you know how solar-powered pumps work let’s examine their benefits.

Benefits of Solar-Powered Water Pumps in Kenya

Without solar-powered water pumps, many communities in developing countries need to rely on rainfall and inaccessible water sources. This lack of reliable water can limit harvesting to just twice each year.

People are also forced to get their energy from unclean, toxic fuels that harm the environment and community members. Farmers need to rely on labor-intensive ropes and buckets or expensive diesel or petrol-based water pumping systems to irrigate their crops.

Solar-powered water pumps have many benefits including:

1. Low cost to operate

The cost of solar PV (photovoltaic) panels has dropped significantly, bringing down the initial set-up cost from years ago. Operating expenses are lower than other systems because the sun rather than fuel provides the energy. The long-term savings of fuel cost overshadows the initial investment needed to set up the solar-powered water pump.

2. Friendly to the environment

Sunshine is renewable energy. Renewable energy comes from sources that nature will replace. Some contend that solar energy is not renewable because of greenhouse gas emitted during the solar panel manufacturing process.

While that does happen, there is no emission of toxins after that during solar energy production. For that reason, solar-powered water pumps are considered clean energy sources.

3. Works even in the most remote places

Since the sun provides the energy, an external power source isn’t necessary, which means a solar-powered water pump will work in remote places and areas without access to a power grid.

4. Easy to maintain

Solar-powered water pumps have very few mechanical parts, which lessens the chances of components needing repairs. They can last for many years without requiring maintenance.

5. Simple to install

Engineers aren’t required to assemble or install solar-powered water pumps. They have few components and can be installed easily by local people.

6. Increasing productivity

Water collection is grueling for those in developing countries. It can require walking for several hours in each direction. Solar-powered water pumps save time from not having to collect water, improving health, and making time for other productive activities. Farmers can produce more food when they aren’t dependent on rainfall or electricity.

7. Reliable

Solar-powered water pumps provide a reliable water source because it doesn’t require electricity. As long as there’s sunlight you don’t have to worry about electricity outages. Even during cloudy periods, you can use battery backup to continue pumping water or alternatively have tanks for storage.