Solar Water Pumps vs Windmills

For hundreds of years the windmill has been a major source of power for milling, water pumping and driving machinery. Up until recently the windmill was the only free to run water system. Lately due to large technological advances in solar pump and panel design, this form of free water supply has become a major competitor to the windmill. The choice of the most suitable product depends on use required and local conditions.

Naturally windmills perform best in windy areas in coastal regions or above eight hundred metes in elevation whereas solar pumps perform best in dry sunny locations.

Windmills have the following advantages:
They can operate for 24 hours a day when the wind blows.
Can produce large volumes of water in windy areas.
Heads up to 400M are achievable
Easy to service mechanical operation without electronic components
Can run dry without damage.

Windmills have the following disadvantages:
More expensive than solar pumps
Wind does not necessarily blow in summer when water is most needed. In southern Australia the windiest months are August and September.
Due to Work cover requirements, maintenance staff must be certified with the necessary approved equipment to work at heights.
In deep bores due to rigid piping the pump is difficult to remove for servicing.
Cannot be turned off with a pressure switch.

Advantages of a solar pump.
Operates best in summer when water is most needed.
Very efficient with modern design of solar pumps and panels.
Easy to install at ground level.
The electronic controller has no moving parts and does not require servicing
In deep bores the pump is easily removed due to the flexible poly pipe.
Probes switch the pump off when the water level is low.
A simple pressure switch isolates the pump when the tank is full.

Disadvantages of solar pumps.
Do not operate at night
Reduced pumping on overcast days
Does not operate when it is raining.

Conclusion:
Windmills are ideal in locations where the wind regularly blows in the summer months.
In most other applications particularly in dry sunny areas the solar pump is the answer and the price is now less expensive than it was.

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