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[[Africa Groundwater Atlas Home | Africa Groundwater Atlas]] >> [[Additional resources | Resource pages ]] >> | [[Africa Groundwater Atlas Home | Africa Groundwater Atlas]] >> [[Additional resources | Resource pages ]] >> Solar Groundwater Pumping in Africa | ||
Please cite page as: Africa Groundwater Atlas. 2023. Solar Groundwater Pumping in Africa. British Geological Survey. Accessed [date you accessed the information]. ''https://earthwise.bgs.ac.uk/index.php/Solar_Groundwater_Pumping_in_Africa''. | Please cite page as: Africa Groundwater Atlas. 2023. Solar Groundwater Pumping in Africa. British Geological Survey. Accessed [date you accessed the information]. ''https://earthwise.bgs.ac.uk/index.php/Solar_Groundwater_Pumping_in_Africa''. | ||
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Solar groundwater pumping is simply the use of solar technologies to provide energy to power groundwater pumps. This replaces other power sources such as diesel or hand pumping. | Solar groundwater pumping is simply the use of solar technologies to provide energy to power groundwater pumps. This replaces other power sources such as diesel or hand pumping. | ||
Solar powered groundwater pumps have dramatically reduced in cost, and increased in reliability, over the last 10 years. They are able to pump at higher yields than handpumps and are more environmentally friendly and cheaper to run than diesel pumps. | Solar-powered groundwater pumps have dramatically reduced in cost, and increased in reliability, over the last 10 years. They are able to pump at higher yields than handpumps and are more environmentally friendly and cheaper to run than diesel pumps. | ||
In areas where electricity supply may be limited, solar pumps can improve the lives of users by providing cheap and predictable access to groundwater sources. This can then be utilised for drinking water supply or in larger applications including agriculture and irrigation. | In areas where electricity supply may be limited, solar pumps can improve the lives of users by providing cheap and predictable access to groundwater sources. This can then be utilised for drinking water supply or in larger applications including agriculture and irrigation. | ||
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Solar pumping effectiveness is directly linked to availability of sun. As such, in water scarce regions prolonged periods of sunlight will increase the potential yield a solar powered pump can provide. | Solar pumping effectiveness is directly linked to availability of sun. As such, in water scarce regions prolonged periods of sunlight will increase the potential yield a solar powered pump can provide. | ||
====Challenges with solar powered groundwater pumping==== | ====Challenges with solar-powered groundwater pumping==== | ||
:- The increased potential yields solar pumps can generate could result in over pumping of aquifers and may result in other groundwater supplies drying up. It is recommended that in areas where solar pumping is being utilised, that groundwater monitoring is increased to prevent excessive drawdown and over abstraction. | :- The increased potential yields solar pumps can generate could result in over pumping of aquifers and may result in other groundwater supplies drying up. It is recommended that in areas where solar pumping is being utilised, that groundwater monitoring is increased to prevent excessive drawdown and over abstraction. | ||
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Research into solar groundwater pumping is ongoing. Recent publications include: | Research into solar groundwater pumping is ongoing. Recent publications include: | ||
:- [https://doi.org/10.1038/s43247-023-00695-8 | :- [https://doi.org/10.1038/s43247-023-00695-8 Meunier et al] present modelling results for the African continent and identify areas where solar pumping has the highest potential. Aquifer conditions rather than overall irradiance were found to be the most significant factor affecting photovoltaic energy for groundwater pumping across Africa. Geological and hydrogeological understanding is the key parameter required for effective implementation of solar technologies. | ||
:- [https://doi.org/10.3390/app13063859 | :- [https://doi.org/10.3390/app13063859 Jovanović et al] conclude that utilising solar-powered shallow groundwater pumping is viable in their study are (Giyani Municipality) and may benefit water security, increase business activity, increase community involvement, and improve gender equality. They highlighted the need for a good water quality monitoring program to prevent over abstraction of the aquifer as a result of increased ease of access. | ||
:- [https://doi.org/10.1126/science.adi9497 | :- [https://doi.org/10.1126/science.adi9497 Balasubramanya et al] review the risks associated with the rapid expansion of solar-powered groundwater irrigation. They discus the importance of involving policy makers to negotiate the trade-offs between the irrigation required with food production and the associated poverty alleviations with the unintended consequences in terms of groundwater depletion and potential over abstraction of aquifers. | ||
====References==== | ====References==== | ||
Meunier, S., Kitanidis, P. K., Cordier, A. & MacDonald A. M. (2023). [https://doi.org/10.1038/s43247-023-00695-8 | Meunier, S., Kitanidis, P. K., Cordier, A. & MacDonald A. M. (2023). [https://doi.org/10.1038/s43247-023-00695-8 Aquifer conditions, not irradiance determine the potential of photovoltaic energy for groundwater pumping across Africa]. Communications Earth & Environment 4, 52. | ||
Jovanović, N., Mpambo, M., Willoughby, A., Maswanganye, E., Mazvimavi, D., Petja, B., Molose, V., Sifundza, Z., Phasha, K., Ngoveni, B., et al. (2023) [https://doi.org/10.3390/app13063859 | Jovanović, N., Mpambo, M., Willoughby, A., Maswanganye, E., Mazvimavi, D., Petja, B., Molose, V., Sifundza, Z., Phasha, K., Ngoveni, B., et al. (2023) [https://doi.org/10.3390/app13063859 Feasibility of Solar-Powered Groundwater Pumping Systems in Rural Areas of Greater Giyani Municipality (Limpopo, South Africa)]. Appl. Sci. 2023, 13, 3859. | ||
Balasubramanya, Soumya; Garrick, Dustin; Brozović, Nicholas; Ringler, Claudia; Zaveri, Esha; Kishore, Avinash; et al. 2024. [https://doi.org/10.1126/science.adi9497 | Balasubramanya, Soumya; Garrick, Dustin; Brozović, Nicholas; Ringler, Claudia; Zaveri, Esha; Kishore, Avinash; et al. 2024. [https://doi.org/10.1126/science.adi9497 Risks from solar-powered groundwater irrigation]. Science 383(6680): 256-258. | ||
Latest revision as of 08:39, 27 February 2024
Africa Groundwater Atlas >> Resource pages >> Solar Groundwater Pumping in Africa
Please cite page as: Africa Groundwater Atlas. 2023. Solar Groundwater Pumping in Africa. British Geological Survey. Accessed [date you accessed the information]. https://earthwise.bgs.ac.uk/index.php/Solar_Groundwater_Pumping_in_Africa.
Solar Groundwater Pumping in Africa
Solar groundwater pumping is simply the use of solar technologies to provide energy to power groundwater pumps. This replaces other power sources such as diesel or hand pumping.
Solar-powered groundwater pumps have dramatically reduced in cost, and increased in reliability, over the last 10 years. They are able to pump at higher yields than handpumps and are more environmentally friendly and cheaper to run than diesel pumps.
In areas where electricity supply may be limited, solar pumps can improve the lives of users by providing cheap and predictable access to groundwater sources. This can then be utilised for drinking water supply or in larger applications including agriculture and irrigation.
Solar pumping effectiveness is directly linked to availability of sun. As such, in water scarce regions prolonged periods of sunlight will increase the potential yield a solar powered pump can provide.
Challenges with solar-powered groundwater pumping
- - The increased potential yields solar pumps can generate could result in over pumping of aquifers and may result in other groundwater supplies drying up. It is recommended that in areas where solar pumping is being utilised, that groundwater monitoring is increased to prevent excessive drawdown and over abstraction.
- - As pumping is directly tied to sunlight hours, storage of groundwater at surface must be considered.
- - Theft and vandalism of the solar and borehole infrastructure. Consideration of security options are advisable if infrastructure is publicly accessible.
- - Maintenance of the pump and solar equipment will be required.
Further general information on solar groundwater pumping
Current Research
Research into solar groundwater pumping is ongoing. Recent publications include:
- - Meunier et al present modelling results for the African continent and identify areas where solar pumping has the highest potential. Aquifer conditions rather than overall irradiance were found to be the most significant factor affecting photovoltaic energy for groundwater pumping across Africa. Geological and hydrogeological understanding is the key parameter required for effective implementation of solar technologies.
- - Jovanović et al conclude that utilising solar-powered shallow groundwater pumping is viable in their study are (Giyani Municipality) and may benefit water security, increase business activity, increase community involvement, and improve gender equality. They highlighted the need for a good water quality monitoring program to prevent over abstraction of the aquifer as a result of increased ease of access.
- - Balasubramanya et al review the risks associated with the rapid expansion of solar-powered groundwater irrigation. They discus the importance of involving policy makers to negotiate the trade-offs between the irrigation required with food production and the associated poverty alleviations with the unintended consequences in terms of groundwater depletion and potential over abstraction of aquifers.
References
Meunier, S., Kitanidis, P. K., Cordier, A. & MacDonald A. M. (2023). Aquifer conditions, not irradiance determine the potential of photovoltaic energy for groundwater pumping across Africa. Communications Earth & Environment 4, 52.
Jovanović, N., Mpambo, M., Willoughby, A., Maswanganye, E., Mazvimavi, D., Petja, B., Molose, V., Sifundza, Z., Phasha, K., Ngoveni, B., et al. (2023) Feasibility of Solar-Powered Groundwater Pumping Systems in Rural Areas of Greater Giyani Municipality (Limpopo, South Africa). Appl. Sci. 2023, 13, 3859.
Balasubramanya, Soumya; Garrick, Dustin; Brozović, Nicholas; Ringler, Claudia; Zaveri, Esha; Kishore, Avinash; et al. 2024. Risks from solar-powered groundwater irrigation. Science 383(6680): 256-258.
Africa Groundwater Atlas >> Resource pages >> Solar Groundwater Pumping in Africa