Solar23 delivered 28 solar PV pumps to Somalia, helping to pump around 500,000 liters of clean water. Jürgen Raach, managing director and project manager, said: “This project is an example of the possibilities offered by a decentralized PV power generation system in sunny, [off-grid] regions.”
The PV pumping systems operate without batteries, producing a direct current which is converted by an inverter into a three-phase AC which is directed to a pump engine. The inverters vary the output frequency according to the available input power. At sunset, the inverter switches off automatically and the next morning at sunrise starts again.
A PV pumping system can have a life of over 20 years, if properly maintained. Apart from the regular cleaning of the solar panels there are no additional operating or maintenance costs.
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