Case Study: 7th of July waste water Station, Al Sha'ab District, Aden, Yemen, Solar Waste water pump

Project Period: July 2024 – July 2025Partners: Local Water Sanitation Corporation · Grundfos A/S · UNICEF YemenContext & ChallengeAden’s wastewater infrastructure was crippled by chronic power outages (10–14 hrs/day), causing sewage overflows, public health risks (cholera, malaria), and reliance on costly diesel generators. Harsh climate conditions — extreme heat up to 48 °C and frequent sandstorms — further degraded equipment performance.SolutionYemen’s first fully solar-powered, off‑grid wastewater pumping station was installed at the 7th of July facility in Al Sha’ab District.• Solar Array: 22.1 kWp (32 × 690 W Mono PERC)• Pump: Grundfos SE.100.130.4.52H.N.51D.A (13 kW)• Inverter: Grundfos RSI 30 kW, IP66, battery‑free direct‑drive• Monitoring: Grundfos GO Remote for predictive diagnosticsKey Results (July 2024–July 2025)• 100% uptime – 365 days continuous operation, no failures• 95% cost reduction – from $16,400/year (diesel) to $820/year (solar)• 31 tonnes CO₂ eliminated annually• 18,250 m³ treated wastewater reused for irrigation• ROI: 3.8 years on $59,200 total project costInnovations• Battery‑free direct solar drive – cuts costs and maintenance• Oversized array – ensures operation in low sunlight• Weatherproof design – IP66 components, dust‑resistant enclosures, passive cooling• Remote diagnostics – 97% of issues resolved without site visitsImpact & OutlookThe project proves that solar-direct wastewater pumping is technically and economically viable in crisis zones. It sets a national precedent for sustainable sanitation, with plans for five more stations in Yemen