1. Copyright © Naps Systems Oy 2012
Solar powered water pumping systems
Project in Yemen

2. Solar Electric Systems in Water Pumping
Copyright © Naps Systems Oy 2012
• Pumping water from wells, boreholes,
rivers or lakes in remote areas
• Water used for domestic, health care or
irrigation
• Main system components: solar electric
array, AC inverter and a submersible
pump/motor unit
• Pumps can operate with 15-100m head giving about 17-40m3
water a day
• No need for batteries: water stored in reservoir tank
• Number of system elements depends on the pumping head,
required amount of water and the solar irradiation available at site

3. Case: Project in Yemen
Objectives and site specific issues
Copyright © Naps Systems Oy 2012
Objectives:
• To pump clean water for domestic and health care use
• To provide power for water pumping system
Site specific issues:
• High mountain area with no electricity grid
• Extension of the electricity grid would have been expensive because
loads are relatively small (1200 W)
• Due to difficult terrain regular fuel supplies would have been difficult. In
addition maintenance of the mechanical equipment problematic

4. Water Pumping Project in Yemen
Implementation
Copyright © Naps Systems Oy 2012
System configuration:
• 24 Naps 50G modules,
total power (1200 W)
• A 1500 Watt inverter
• Pump SP1A-28
• Cables and structure for installation
Output:
• 8000 - 9000 litres of water per day
Cost comparison:
• Solar electricity 0,54 USD per m3
• Diesel 0,63 USD per m3

5. Water Pumping Project in Yemen
Conclusions
Copyright © Naps Systems Oy 2012
• Solar electricity is technically
and economically successful
• Implementation was smooth,
only little site preparation was needed
• System meets the needs of the community
• Further sites for electric systems is being
planned
• Solar electric pumping is competitive for
villages of max. 2000 people

6. Water Pumping Yield Examples
Examples
Copyright © Naps Systems Oy 2012
Daily water Total dynamic Daily energy
yield m3/day
head m
demand kWh
10
30
2.5
20
30
5.0
20
100
11
10
50
3.8

7. Selected References
Copyright © Naps Systems Oy 2012
Bolivia
Yemen
Zimbabwe
In addition Kenya,
Tanzania, Uganda, Eritrea,
Mozambique, Djibouti,
Zaire, Congo and Sudan
all have water pumping
system supplied
by Naps.
Ethiopia
7

8. Copyright © Naps Systems Oy 2012
Naps Systems Ltd
Ruosilankuja 4, FI-00390 Helsinki, Finland
group@napssystems.com
Tel. +358 20 7545 666, Fax +358 20 7545 660
www.napssystems.com