Solar Water Pumping

The PV array above moves water from this cistern to a second cistern more than 200' uphill and over 900' away.

Solar water pumping can effectively move water from a remote location or well to the place where it is needed. PIMBY Energy has developed solar water pumping applications for homes and agricultural applications. Moving water with the sun is an elegant and low impact solution.  

Factors driving the selection of a solar pumping solution include:

  1. Water Demand
  2. Solar Availability/Shading
  3. Head (distance vertical/horizontal that must be overcome)

Water may be pumped from a deep well or from a pond or cistern. Adding a cistern to one or both ends of the system helps to moderate seasonal variation in the availability of the source. Pumping into a cistern allows for daytime accumulation of water that may then be drawn down during nighttime when the pump is not operating.