Solar Pumping System for Rural Areas Water Supply in Nigeria

Abstract

Nigeria is endowed with abundant energy resources, both conventional and renewable, which can potentially provide the country with a sufficient capacity to meet the ambitions of both urban and rural Nigerians of a full, nationwide electrification level. Yet, Nigeria has one of the lowest consumption rates of electricity per capita in Africa. With the demand superseding the generation, there is inequitable access of rural communities to the electricity service in the country. There are inherent obstacles militating against the effective implementation of an orderly energy policy in Nigeria. The inefficiencies over shadowing the allocation of energy resources coupled with the near depletion of fossil fuels, make it imperative for the country to exploit its huge natural renewable resources to avoid a worsening energy supply scenario and provide feasible solar water pump to rural dwellers. This paper presents the applications of solar water pumping which are already quite significant and are growing at steady rate. Solar energy is suitable for small-scale water pumping in remote areas where the demand is regular, such as for drinking water, but it may also be used for irrigation. Most areas in Nigeria have climates suitable for solar pumping. A review is given of the use of solar energy for water pumping to improve the living conditions of the population in rural areas and to develop techniques for utilization of solar energy in a tropical environment condition. Results, suggests that, solar powered water pumping must be encouraged, promoted, invested, implemented, and demonstrated by full scale in Nigeria.