Abstract

This paper presents data collection, analysis and innovative methods to select the components of a solar powered water pumping system for sustainable development to improve the livelihood of people in rural areas to urban conditions. PNG has an abundance of water but ease of access is a challenge due to lack of technological advancements in the field. Even though multiple studies have been carried over the years to justify the needs of having access to proper water, low priority has been given nevertheless. The lack of service delivery framework and proper policies as well as lack of budget mechanisms to locate and track expenditure are the constraints faced in having urban water supply reach rural areas. On the other hand, water supply in this country is very much dependent on electricity. Expensive cost of electricity and the geographical terrains are two of the main contributing factors of the vast majority in rural areas not connected to the main electricity grid thus affecting water supply reaching everyone. However, despite this challenge, PNG has the potential to tap into renewable energy and have the technological capabilities to solve these issues by providing cheap and affordable electricity, especially to the rural population, thus proper water supply can reach the rural population. Photovoltaic technology provides a viable solution to this challenge as solar energy is free, and although initial installation cost may be high, the long-term benefits far outweigh the cost of setup. Harvesting the maximum potential solar energy depends entirely on the pump that is selected for the system. A 200W PV panel array is used to power as calculated 160W pump, which is designed to cater for the domestic use of one household, with a water storage capacity of 2000L.