Experience results and techno-economic feasibility of using photovoltaic generators instead of diesel motors for water pumping from rural desert wells in Jordan

As an alternative to the use of diesel motors for pumping water from remote desert wells, the author illustrates the design and testing of water pumping systems powered by photovoltaic (PV) generators. Regarding reliability and economic feasibility, the comparison results of these two pumping methods, replacing diesel motors with PV systems are very encouraging. Up to a hydraulic energy equivalent of 6000 m⁴/day (i.e. 100 m head×60 m³/day), the cost of water pumped by PV is less than that for diesel