ABSTRACT
Energy is needed for practically all the activities that are basic to human survival, such as cooking, water pumping and food production. The majority of the population of all developing countries live in the rural areas. The combined effect of population growth and supply problems of commercial fuels is putting ever-increasing pressure on the traditional fuel supplies. Photovoltaic systems are widely recognised as an attractive means to address some of the rural energy problems. Hand and wind powered pumps have a long history of lifting water in rural areas for water supply and irrigation. PV pumps are well suited to irrigation applications. They produce the most water when the solar radiation is greatest and hence when the crop water demand is highest. PV pumping technology has improved significantly over recent years, with the emphasis on better matching of system components, increased reliability and reduced maintenance requirements.
