Solar for Irrigation and Boreholes in the Western Cape

Irrigation is one of the most natural uses of solar on a farm. The pump runs in daylight, when the panels are producing, and the cost of diesel or grid power is saved every time it runs. The design matters, though. Pumps draw several times their running current when they start, and a badly sized system trips or underperforms.

What we look at

• The pump motor size, whether it is single or three phase, and its start-up current.
• How many hours it runs and at what time of day.
• Borehole yield, depth and whether the pump runs from a dam or a river.
• Whether you also want power for a homestead, workshop or cold room from the same system.
• Whether the farm is on the grid, or needs a standalone design with batteries.

Grid-tied or standalone

If the pump is on the grid, a grid-tied system can supply it directly and reduce the bill. For remote boreholes with no grid, a standalone design with a drive that suits the motor works better, sometimes with a tank so water is stored rather than power. We tell you which suits your site.

Matching the pump to the sun

Water can often be pumped when the sun is strongest and stored in a dam or tank, which avoids the cost of batteries. We design around your storage and daily water needs.

Frequently asked questions

Can solar run a three-phase borehole pump? Yes, with an inverter or drive sized for the motor and its start-up current. We check the details on site.

Do I need batteries for irrigation? Not usually. Water stored in a dam or tank can do the job of a battery. Batteries are worth considering if you need pumping at night or during cloudy spells.

Can the same system run my farm buildings too? Yes. We can design one system to supply the pump, sheds, cold rooms and homestead.

Related farm solar guides

Back to our farm solar hub for the Western Cape. Other farm types: Irrigation and borehole pumping, Cold rooms and packhouses, Wine estates and cellars, Dairy and livestock farms. See where we work in the Cape Winelands, the Swartland and West Coast, the Overberg and the Klein Karoo and Cederberg.