A comprehensive review of control and energy management strategies for solar PV-based water pumping systems

Water pumping applications typically consume significant amounts of fuel, electricity, and other conventional resources. Photovoltaic (PV) technology offers a sustainable and promising alternative by delivering equivalent operational outcomes without depleting traditional energy sources. PV-based systems are particularly well suited for applications requiring moderate and intermittent water pumping. However, unlike conventional energy systems, renewable energy sources such as solar PV are non-dispatchable, with variable and uncontrollable power output. This variability necessitates advanced control strategies to manage multiple system parameters, including input voltage, water flow rate, torque, power, pressure, motor speed, and vibrations. Effective control and monitoring of these parameters can substantially reduce system costs and improve operational efficiency. Consequently, the adoption of optimized control strategies extends the operational hours of solar PV water pumping systems and enhances overall system performance. This paper reviews major configurations, control strategies, and MPPT techniques developed for SPV water-pumping systems during the past decade. Additionally, it discusses energy management techniques for renewable energy-based direct-driven, off-grid, and on-grid SPV water pumping systems (SPVWPS), ensuring reliable motor control, regulated water flow, and a precise balance between pump load demands and renewable energy generation.