A stable and clean water supply is a basic requirement, yet many people now lack this basic resource. Solar water pumps are a socially and environmentally appealing water supply solution. Solar power is frequently the most cost-effective option, especially in isolated places where power lines are inaccessible. Bringing power cables to isolated wells or streams might be costly. Solar or wind-powered water pumps could be a cost-effective, safe, dependable, and environmentally friendly solution.
These pumps are of two types- surface water pumps and submersible water pumps. They are used in agriculture, water supply, and other industries. Surface pumps are less costly than submersible pumps; however, they are not well adapted for suction and can only draw water from a vertical distance of around 6.5 meters. Surface pumps are ideal for transporting water across large distances.
Market Drivers and Growth Factors
According to OMR Research, the global solar water pump market is expected to grow at a CAGR of 5.8% during the forecast period (2023-2029). The market is being driven by a number of significant factors, including expanding applications in the residential and agricultural sectors as well as consistent government policies for solar water pumps. Solar technologies are becoming a feasible choice for both big and small-scale farmers as investment prices for solar powered irrigation systems (SPIS) fall and incentive schemes for SPIS are implemented. SPIS delivers dependable and economical electricity, potentially lowering irrigation energy expenses. They can provide a very flexible and climate-friendly alternative energy source in rural locations where diesel fuel is costly or when a stable connection to the electrical grid is unavailable. SPIS can be employed in both large-scale irrigation systems and decentralized, small-scale irrigation systems. Solar pump operation generates no greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. Life cycle analyses of SPIS reveal a potential decrease in GHG emissions per unit of power used for water pumping (CO2-eq/kWh) of 95–97% when compared to pumps powered by grid electricity (global average energy mix) and 97–98% when compared to diesel pumps (GIZ, 2016).
Considering these factors, in 2019, the Indian government established the PM Kusum Yojana, or PM Kusum, a massive solar pump initiative. The initiative intends to increase farmers' income by installing grid-connected solar pumps with capacities of up to 2 MW and converting existing diesel pumps to solar.
Moreover, the province of British Columbia has a provincial sales tax exemption for renewable energy system equipment, including-
• Solar photovoltaic collector wiring, controllers, panels, and devices that convert direct current (DC) into alternating current (AC) (inverters), when they are sold as part of a solar PV system.
• Solar thermal collector panels, tubing, wiring, pumps, and heat exchangers, when they are sold as part of a system that includes solar thermal collector panels.
Another factor that is boosting the market’s growth is the integration of technology in solar water pump systems. The employment of electrical systems and sophisticated software in current solar pumping technology has boosted the output power, performance, and overall efficiency of SPIS. The electronic controller, which adjusts the available power from the solar generator to the solar pump, is now crucial equipment.
Recent Developments
The companies that are contributing to the solar water pump market’s growth include Alpex Solar Pvt. Ltd., Bright Solar Ltd., C.R.I. Pumps Private Ltd., Grundfos Pumps Corp., Jain Irrigation Systems Ltd., JJ PV Solar, Kirloskar Brothers Ltd., LORENTZ, Lubi Electronics, Rainbow Power Company Ltd., and others. These are incorporating various product launches, mergers and acquisitions, and investment activities to support the market. Some recent developments in the market include-
• In September 2022, the Sur-Andévalo Irrigation Community in Huelva, Spain's southernmost region, completed the building of a 1.6 MW floating PV plant for solar pumping. The system is based on 7,168 IsiFloating 4.0 floats supplied by Spanish expert Isigenere and 3,584 solar panels, each having a rated output of 450 W. It is located on the Dehesa de las Yeguas pond in the municipality of Cartaya.
• In June 2022, Technion scientists developed a solar water pump for agricultural purposes. The pump does not contain any moving parts and is built from inexpensive components such as recycled plastic, radiator parts, and others. The project will be first implemented in Ethiopia, in East Africa, where the population suffers from drought and lack of water sources.