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Lessons from a PV pumping programme in south Morocco
Author(s) -
Narvarte Luis,
Lorenzo Eduardo,
Aandam Mohamed
Publication year - 2005
Publication title -
progress in photovoltaics: research and applications
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 2.286
H-Index - 131
eISSN - 1099-159X
pISSN - 1062-7995
DOI - 10.1002/pip.581
Subject(s) - photovoltaic system , reliability (semiconductor) , water pumping , water consumption , power consumption , clean water , power (physics) , environmental science , consumption (sociology) , electricity , water resources , volume (thermodynamics) , business , environmental economics , telecommunications , environmental engineering , engineering , electrical engineering , economics , physics , mechanical engineering , waste management , sociology , ecology , social science , quantum mechanics , inlet , biology
This paper presents the experience of a PV pumping project being carried‐out in the South of Morocco since 1997. At present, the project has reached 18 villages, affecting 15 000 people. Total involved photovoltaic power is 46 kW p , and the total volume of pumped water since the installation of the systems approaches 0.7 × 10 6 m 3 . About half the PV systems are based on dedicated inverters, while the rest are based on standard frequency drivers. Both perform very similarly in terms of both efficiency and reliability. Wells have been selected to provide good water taste, and pumped water is distributed to all the individual houses. Average daily water consumption in summer varies from 13 to 50 litres per person depending on ease of water access and ‚urban proximity’. The maintenance infrastructure is based on an agreement between the European supplier company and a local NGO, which is in charge of all the local organizations. Copyright © 2005 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.