Solar Water Pumps

Where are solar water pumps used?

Today, most of the world’s solar water pumps are used by small-scale farmers in sub-Saharan Africa and South Asia. In these regions, 60% of farmland is rainfed, leaving harvests at the mercy of unpredictable weather.

Water pumps are used around the globe, but most aren’t run on solar power. Today, the most common models are either manually operated, connected to the electric grid, or run on diesel generators.

Each of these technologies has downsides. Pumping water by hand is slow and exhausting, while a plug-in electric model can only be used where a grid connection is available. Diesel pumps generate greenhouse gases and air pollution, and are also expensive and hard to maintain.

Within the past few decades, solar-powered pumps have become more viable as solar technology has gotten cheaper and more efficient. They’re still rare, however—CLASP analysis found that less than 1% of the people who could potentially use a solar water pump have one.¹

Solar water pumps aren’t a perfect fit for every situation. They can be unsuitable for arid regions and may be less effective during droughts.²

Why are solar water pumps important for climate adaptation and sustainable development?

As climate change alters weather patterns, it’s becoming more difficult for farmers to plan, predict, and grow crops. For the small-scale farmers who grow much of the food in low- and middle-income countries, this means less income, as well as less on the table for their families and communities.

By providing a consistent water supply, solar water pumps let farmers cultivate larger areas and grow crops more efficiently, bringing them larger yields and higher incomes. In one study, 87% of 15 Rwandan farmers who obtained one of these appliances reported increased monthly incomes, while 64% reported hiring more laborers and growing new crops.³

Unfortunately, solar water pumps are inaccessible to many farmers who need them. These appliances are relatively expensive, putting them out of reach for small-scale farmers, who typically earn irregular incomes and have limited access to loans. In Nigeria, for example, a solar water pump costs roughly 74%⁴ of the average annual income.