If you need to move water in a remote or off-grid area, a solar water pump is probably your most efficient option. Most of the time, a solar water pumping system (also known as "solar-direct pumping") is about as straightforward as it gets: a solar panel is wired directly to a solar powered water pump. No batteries. No inverter. Just a simple water pumping system that moves water when the sun is shining, which is usually when it's most needed.
While solar water pumping truly is as simple as PV and a pump, in most cases you'll want to add a pump controller or linear current booster (LCB) to the system. These devices help you squeeze more runtime and efficiency out of a solar water pump by converting excess voltage to current during periods of low sun (most notably early morning and evening), and some have other features as well.
But what about moving water when the sun's not shining? In most cases, we recommend storing water in a holding tank rather than storing electricity in batteries to run the pump. This results in the same outcome: water when you need it, but with less cost and complexity than integrating battery storage. A notable exception to this rule of thumb is when you need to use a booster pump to create water pressure inside your house. In this case, batteries are needed to maintain water pressure night and day. For help figuring out what your exact water pumping needs are, call us at 800-919-2400 or use our free solar water pumping system quote tool.
