Solar Powered Water Pumping System for Remote Areas

Clean water is a necessary resource over two billion people in the world do not have access to. The three main reasons why water is inaccessible are geographical location, inadequate sanitation regulations, and a lack of infrastructure. A cost-effective and attainable solution to this is solar-powered water pumping systems (SPWPS). Groundwater and light are resources that are already available in rural areas. Harnessing energy from photovoltaic panels provides an alternative clean energy source bypassing grid infrastructure issues. The water pumping system can access clean water underground eliminating the risk of waterborne disease. This paper determines the optimal design of a photovoltaic circuit, effective components, and methods for an SPWPS in rural areas. Multiple components and methods are simulated to determine the most efficient system. Following multiple design iterations, a maximum power point tracking (MPPT) control method used in conjunction with a boost converter and a positive-displacement screw pump is deemed the ideal design. This design will offer the largest volume of water while maximizing system efficiency, use of clean energy, and longevity of the pump. The solar-powered water pumping system follows the constraints of a rural area and will potentially be implemented in Mbaala, Uganda to provide clean water to a small village.