Given that agriculture plays an essential role in India’s economic development, it is no surprise to see the ever-growing demand for solar water pumps. Farmers benefit significantly from this technology as they can irrigate their farmlands without relying on grid power. Even city folks can use solar pumps to draw water from deep below the ground levels to meet their demands.
Over here, you will find detailed information on what solar water pumps are, how they work and what you need to know before you buy one in India.
What are Solar Pumps?
As the name suggests, these are simple water pumps that operate on solar energy – with the help of solar panels/photovoltaic panels. Rather than using traditional electricity, solar water pumping systems run on the current generated by PV panels.
The system contains:
- Solar panels
- Water pump set
- Charge controller
- Inverter & batteries (depending on the requirement)
The energy from the sun is converted into electricity – which is then used to power the pump.
In the nighttime or cloudy/rainy days when there is no sunshine, battery backup may be used. In this case, a battery unit would also need to be added to the water pumping system.
Solar pumps deliver the same performance as regular water pumps. They are useful in extracting water from ponds, wells, borewells, rivers, and other sources and supply it to meet irrigation demands, community needs, and other purposes.
These devices are particularly popular among farmers who often face electricity issues. If the farm is away from the grid, or if the grid power is unreliable due to frequent blackouts, it becomes necessary to find a more reliable energy source so that farming activities are not affected. Solar pumps have proven to be a great alternative.
Conversely, solar pumps can also complement an on-grid irrigation system by reducing dependence on utility power. During the daytime, the sun can provide sufficient power to offset the electricity costs and thereby reduce the utility energy consumption.
Benefits of Solar Water Pumps
Solar pumps enjoy the traditional benefits of leveraging solar energy. These include:
- As a renewable energy source, solar pumps are clean, non-polluting, and do not harm the environment
- They do not require fossil fuels to operate; sunlight is all they need. Therefore, users can enjoy significant savings that may otherwise be used to meet the recurring fuel costs/electricity costs
- Water-soil contamination is non-existent
- Compatible with standard irrigation practices like drip irrigation, surface irrigation, etc.
- They are easy to install and do not require frequent maintenance due to less number of moving parts
- Well-suited for use in remote areas where the grid connection is not available
- The Government of India and state governments have launched several schemes and initiatives encouraging solar pump adoption. Under these schemes, one can purchase solar pumps at lower costs
Types of Solar Pumps
When it comes to buying solar pumps in India, you will have four main choices.
Submersible Pumps
Submersible solar pumps draw water from deep below the ground level – usually beyond the depth of 15-20 metres. These pumps often require borewell construction and may incur additional installation charges. The inlet is placed underground and submerged underwater, and the water is pulled upwards to the ground level.
Surface Pumps
Surface pumps are the opposite of submersible pumps; they are used when the water needs to be pumped from shallow sources like ponds, lakes, canals, springs, or tanks. The water table is generally well-within 10 meters. The pump is not submerged in the water – instead, it remains on the surface and draws water via pipes.
While these two are the primary solar water pumps in the market, you have another choice – between DC and AC motor pumps.
DC Pumps
DC motors run on direct current, so the solar water pumping system does not require any inverters. The electricity generated from the sunlight is in DC form – which is then used to run the pump without conversions.
As a result, the energy losses are low – making them highly efficient. However, they are also quite expensive. Additionally, DC pumps may not be easily serviceable in remote areas in case of breakdowns or damages.
AC Pumps
By contrast, AC pumps run on alternating current and require an inverter. There will be energy losses in the conversion step. On the flip side, they are cheaper, easier to repair, and can be incorporated into on-grid electric and hybrid systems.
Therefore, you will have four general criteria to choose from:
- DC submersible pumps
- DC surface pumps
- AC submersible pumps
- AC surface pumps
Cost of Solar Water Pumps
Solar pumps are often rated in horsepower (HP), and 1 HP is equal to 0.74 KW.
In India, you will find solar pumps with ratings of 1HP, 2HP, 3HP, 5HP, 7.5HP, and 10HP. Therefore, a 10KW pump will need ~ 7.5KW output from solar panels.
These six standardised rated pumps are available across DC and AC types and come in submersible or surface applications.
As a rule of thumb:
- Submersible pumps will be more expensive as they require deep underground installation
- DC technology is costlier than AC
With that in mind, we have mentioned the approximate solar water pump kits prices below for different variants. These include the cost of solar panels required to deliver the said power, water pump motor, and other installation accessories like pipes, wiring, stands, controllers, mounts, etc. The prices are exclusive of subsidies – both state and federal.
| Water Pump Rating | DC Submersible | DC Surface | AC Submersible | AC Surface |
| 1HP | Rs. 85,000 – Rs. 1,00,000 | Rs. 80,000 – Rs. 90,000 | Rs. 75,000 – Rs. 90,000 | Rs. 70,000 – Rs. 80,000 |
| 2HP | Rs. 1,60,000 – Rs. 1,80,000 | Rs. 1,50,000 – Rs. 1,70,000 | Rs. 1,45,000 – Rs. 1,65,000 | Rs. 1,30,000 – Rs. 1,50,000 |
| 3HP | Rs. 2,00,000 – Rs. 2,20,000 | Rs. 1,90,000 – Rs. 2,10,000 | Rs. 1,80,000 – Rs. 2,00,000 | Rs. 1,60,000 – Rs. 1,80,000 |
| 5HP | Rs. 2,70,000 – Rs. 2,90,000 | Rs. 2,50,000 – Rs. 2,60,000 | Rs. 2,50,000 – Rs. 2,60,000 | Rs. 2,30,000 – Rs. 2,50,000 |
| 7.5HP | Rs. 4,50,000 – Rs. 4,80,000 | Rs. 4,10,000 – Rs. 4,30,000 | Rs. 4,20,000 – Rs. 4,50,000 | Rs.4,00,000 – Rs. 4,20,000 |
| 10HP | Rs. 5,80,000 – Rs. 6,10,000 | Rs. 5,30,000 – Rs. 5,60,000 | Rs. 5,40,000 – Rs. 5,70,000 | Rs. 5,20,000 – Rs. 5,30,000 |
These prices may vary 10-15% depending on the brand, system size, and other specifications. However, you can safely take these numbers as the benchmark price of your solar water pump system.
Things to Remember
Your solar water pumping system will depend on a few important factors; therefore, you must take some time to do basic research and calculations. We have highlighted the same below.
- Know your water requirements: Depending on the application and daily water needs, you may need a more powerful (or less powerful) pump. If you are farming water-intensive crops like sugarcane, rice, cotton, or soybeans, your daily requirement will be much higher, and you may benefit from a 10HP pump. Similarly, if you need to irrigate massive farmland, then once again, you will need a fair bit of water.
- Consider the water sources: If you plan on extracting water from deep underground, you will need to consider groundwater availability. The same holds good for other sources like ponds, lakes, etc. Since solar water pumps require considerable one-time investment, you want to ensure that you get your return on investment before the water source is depleted.
Your water sources will also determine which type of motor you need to use – submersible or surface. - Installation: For seamless operation, solar panels must be installed in a place that is free of shade and can receive an unobstructed supply of sun. They should be easily accessible for quick cleaning and have ample space so the PV panels can orient themselves to the sun’s direction. The pumps should also be close to the area of irrigation.
Solar Water Pump Subsidies
The Indian government has been prompt in promoting the adoption of solar energy technology among the masses. And considering the importance of agriculture in our country, it is no surprise to see subsidies offered to Indian farmers for buying solar water pumps.
There are two solar water subsidies that you can avail yourself in the country.
PM-KUSUM Yojana Scheme
Also known as Pradhan Mantri Kisan Urja Suraksha evam Utthan Mahabhiyan (PM-KUSUM), this central government-sponsored scheme is geared toward farmers who are looking to leverage solar power plants and solar pumps in their farming activities. It is launched by the Ministry of New and Renewable Energy (MNRE).
As per the scheme, you can avail the following subsidy on your total solar power plant cost:
- 30% of the finance is provided by the central government
- Another 30% is borne by the state government
- 30% is financed by the bank (loan offers)
Therefore, as a customer, you have to pay only 10% of the total cost upfront. To apply for this scheme, you must visit the official portal of PM-KUSUM Yojana and follow the instructions.
NABARD Subsidy Scheme
NABARD, also known as the National Bank for Agriculture and Rural Development, is the premier financial institution in India that deals with financing, promotion, and regulating of credit and other facilities for economic activities in rural India and in the field of agriculture.
As per the NABARD solar subsidy scheme, you can get up to 40% subsidy on total cost – provided you meet specific requirements like
- Buying the solar panels/system from an MNRE-approved manufacturer
- Only specific PV models are eligible under the scheme
- Subsidy is not available to public or private limited companies
While you must pay the remaining 60% of the cost, you do have the option of availing this as a bank loan with a fixed tenure if you cannot afford to pay it upfront.
NABARD subsidies can be availed via the approved banks under the scheme.
Parting Thoughts
Solar water pumps play a key role in revitalising and redefining our agriculture industry. Given the abundance of sun that our farmlands receive in India, solar pumps can be useful in reducing our carbon footprint, fossil-fuel dependence, and electricity costs. There are plenty of options – DC or AC pumps and submersible or surface pumps. Whatever the case, you must do basic estimations to see which type of system suits your requirements the best.