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Solar Groundwater Pumping Systems in Colorado

Solar-powered groundwater pumping systems are often considered for use in livestock and other remote watering applications instead of other forms of alternative energy because they are durable, can be mobile, and exhibit long-term economic benefits. Generally, alternative power is only considered when the cost of tapping into the closest public power grid far outweighs the costs of using alternative power. There are several technology alternatives for supplying power, or lift, to groundwater systems including: wind turbines, windmills, generators, and solar arrays. The driving factors for selecting the appropriate technology are regional feasibility, water demand, system efficiencies, and initial and long-term costs. Other factors often include the need for power and water reserves in the form of batteries and livestock tanks.

The first step is to rule out other sources of power or pumping devices. If the public power grid is reliable and in proximity to the site, preferably less than 1/3 mile, then solar power may be a poor choice.

In terms of water demand, the average daily water consumption for a cow/calf pair in Colorado during the summer is approximately 20 gallons per day. A typical solar-powered system might serve 50 cow/calf pairs. This is a total of 1,000 gallons needed per day. The cost of a system that serves 50 cow/calf pairs can easily reach $11,000 before rebates and incentives.

The long-term costs and ability of the solar-powered pumping system to adapt to changing demands should be considered for the system. The overall lifetime of the complete system should be designed and maintained to last 25 years taking into account future demands of the livestock tank.

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Updated Thursday, May 17, 2012