Solar Water Pumping: Kenya and Nepal Market Acceleration
Abstract
Solar water pumping is a mature, reliable, and economically attractive solution for off-grid irrigation, livestock water, and community water supply. With increasing reliance on water pumping for food security needs, and limited access to conventional energy sources for many communities most in need of water pumping, development programs around the world are accelerating market development for solar powered water pumping systems. Financial, managerial, technical, market access, and educational challenges exist. However, examples from Kenya and Nepal demonstrate how successful initiatives have developed to overcome such barriers. These examples demonstrate that challenges can be overcome through public-private partnerships that take advantage of relative cost savings, increased reliability of both solar power and irrigation systems, and improved technology access through innovative financing models. These interventions help accelerate solar water pumping adoption in Kenya, Nepal, and elsewhere.
Keywords
Photovoltaics, Solar water pumps, Renewable energy