Analysis and performance enhancement of photovoltaic water pumping system under desert condition in Algeria

This paper presents a comprehensive study and analysis of a stand-alone photovoltaic (PV) pumping system for irrigation in the semi-arid location (Sebseb: Ghardaia, Algeria). The research includes a daily efficiency analysis of the solar PV pump, offering in-depth insights into the system's operation, especially focusing on the pump's performance throughout a typical day, based on the current solar panel configuration. The paper highlights the variation in energy absorbed and produced by the pump, as well as the system's efficiency during the day. It also compares on-site measured data with a full-year simulation using PVsyst software. The analysis considers the size of the main components, water needs, and experimental data to evaluate the system's performance and identify the most efficient configuration, focusing on factors including solar radiation, pumped water volume, performance ratio, and pump efficiency. The proposed configuration results in a 17% improvement in system performance and a 9.5% enhancement in pump efficiency.