Pumps Africa & Tools
Solar Borehole Pump Sizing Calculator
Estimate solar panel size, pump power, energy demand and daily water output for a solar borehole pumping system.
Water Requirement
Borehole Head & Pressure
Pump & Solar Assumptions
Quick Design Checks
Calculated Solar Borehole Pump Size
Enter the borehole and water requirement details to calculate the solar pump size.
Designing a solar borehole pumping system can be challenging if you do not know how much power your pump requires or how many solar panels are needed to meet your daily water demand. The Pumps Africa Solar Borehole Pump Sizing Calculator helps you estimate the solar array size, pump power requirements, controller size, and daily energy demand needed for a solar-powered borehole system.
Whether you are supplying water to a home, farm, livestock operation, irrigation system, or commercial property, this calculator provides a fast and practical starting point for planning your solar pumping installation.
Why Use a Solar Borehole Pump?
Solar borehole pumps have become increasingly popular because they provide a reliable and cost-effective water supply without relying entirely on grid electricity or diesel generators.
Solar pumping systems offer several advantages:
- Lower operating costs
- Reduced electricity bills
- Minimal maintenance
- Reliable water supply
- Environmentally friendly operation
- Ideal for remote locations
- Excellent return on investment
With rising electricity prices and ongoing power supply challenges, many farmers and property owners are switching to solar-powered water pumping systems.
What Does This Calculator Calculate?
This calculator estimates the key components required for a solar borehole pumping system.
Total Dynamic Head (TDH)
Total Dynamic Head is one of the most important factors in pump selection.
The calculator combines:
- Dynamic water level
- Delivery height
- Required pressure
- Friction losses
- Pipe and fitting losses
The result provides the total head the pump must overcome.
Pump Power Requirement with Solar Borehole Pump Sizing
Using the flow rate and Total Dynamic Head, the calculator estimates:
- Hydraulic power
- Pump input power
- Electrical power demand
This helps determine the correct pump and motor size.
Daily Energy Consumption
Understanding how much energy the pump requires each day is essential when designing a solar system.
The calculator estimates:
- Daily energy demand (kWh/day)
- Required pumping runtime
- Solar energy requirement
These values form the foundation of solar array sizing.
Solar Panel Array Size with Solar Borehole Pump Sizing
The calculator estimates the solar PV array required to meet the daily water demand.
The calculation considers:
- Daily energy usage
- Peak sun hours
- System losses
- Design safety margin
This helps determine how many solar panels are needed to operate the system effectively.
Solar Controller Sizing
A correctly sized solar pump controller is critical for reliable operation.
The calculator estimates a suitable controller size based on:
- Pump power
- Electrical demand
- Safety factors
This provides a useful starting point when selecting solar pumping equipment.
Applications
This calculator is suitable for:
Domestic Boreholes
Estimate the solar requirements for supplying water to homes, smallholdings, and residential properties.
Agricultural Water Supply
Calculate solar pumping requirements for:
- Livestock watering
- Irrigation systems
- Storage tanks
- Farm water distribution
Irrigation Systems
Determine the solar array size required to support daily irrigation requirements.
Remote Water Supply Systems
Ideal for off-grid installations where grid electricity is unavailable or unreliable.
Commercial Water Systems
Useful for schools, lodges, factories, and commercial properties requiring a sustainable water supply.
Information Required for Solar Borehole Pump Sizing
To use the calculator accurately, gather the following information:
Daily Water Requirement
The total volume of water required each day.
Examples include:
- Household consumption
- Livestock demand
- Irrigation requirements
- Storage tank filling
Dynamic Water Level
The pumping water level while the borehole is operating.
This is often different from the static water level.
Delivery Height
The vertical distance from ground level to the discharge point or storage tank.
Required Pressure
Additional pressure requirements for:
- Irrigation systems
- Pressure tanks
- Water reticulation networks
- Sprinkler systems
Friction Losses
Pipeline friction losses should always be included to improve accuracy.
Use the Pumps Africa Pipe Friction Loss Calculator to determine these values.
Factors That Influence Solar Borehole Pump Sizing
Several factors affect the final solar system size.
Borehole Depth
Deeper boreholes require more energy to lift water.
Water Demand
Higher daily water requirements increase energy consumption and solar array size.
Solar Irradiation
Peak sun hours vary depending on geographic location and season.
Most areas of Southern Africa benefit from excellent solar resources throughout the year.
Pump Efficiency
Efficient pumps require less energy to deliver the same amount of water.
System Losses
Real-world losses occur through:
- Solar panels
- Controllers
- Cabling
- Temperature effects
- Dirt accumulation
The calculator includes allowances for these factors.
Benefits of Proper Solar Borehole Pump Sizing
Correct solar sizing helps:
- Improve system reliability
- Reduce capital costs
- Prevent underperforming systems
- Extend equipment life
- Increase water production
- Maximise return on investment
Oversized systems increase project costs unnecessarily, while undersized systems often fail to meet water demand.
Frequently Asked Questions
How many solar panels do I need for a borehole pump?
The number of panels depends on:
- Borehole depth
- Flow rate
- Daily water requirement
- Solar irradiation
- Pump efficiency
This calculator provides an estimated panel requirement based on your operating conditions.
Can a solar pump run without batteries?
Yes.
Most solar borehole pumps operate directly from solar panels during daylight hours and pump water into storage tanks for later use.
What size solar array is required for a borehole pump?
The required array size depends on:
- Pump power
- Daily runtime
- Available sunlight
- System efficiency
The calculator estimates the required solar array size in kWp.
Is solar pumping suitable for irrigation?
Yes.
Solar pumping is widely used for:
- Drip irrigation
- Centre pivots
- Sprinkler systems
- Livestock watering
- Water transfer systems
Can I use this calculator for agricultural projects?
Absolutely.
The calculator is ideal for farmers, irrigation designers, pump installers, agricultural consultants, and solar contractors.
Why Use the Pumps Africa Solar Borehole Pump Calculator?
Unlike generic solar calculators, this tool is specifically designed for water pumping applications.
It combines hydraulic calculations with solar sizing principles to provide practical estimates for:
- Borehole pumps
- Irrigation systems
- Agricultural water supply
- Water storage systems
- Off-grid pumping applications
The result is a fast and easy way to estimate the size of your solar pumping system before requesting a detailed design or quotation.
Related Calculators
For complete system design, also use: