Many homes, lodges and compounds in Port Harcourt, Warri and Yenagoa pump water every morning. Most use a generator. Let us compare it with solar.
The generator pump
You start the generator. The pump runs for an hour. But people often leave the generator on for other things too. It burns fuel every day.
Example: a small generator burns 1 to 2 litres to fill the tank. At about ₦1,500 a litre, that is ₦1,500 to ₦3,000 a day. Over a month: about ₦45,000 to ₦90,000, just for water.
The solar pump
Two ways:
- On your home solar system. The pump runs in daylight on your inverter. Needs about 5kVA for a 1HP pump.
- A dedicated solar pump. Panels connect to a pump controller. No battery. The pump runs whenever the sun is up.
Side by side
| Generator pump | Solar pump | |
|---|---|---|
| Daily cost | Fuel every day | Free |
| Noise | Loud | Silent |
| Works at night | Yes | Only from tank (or battery) |
| Start cost | Low | Higher |
| Maintenance | Generator servicing | Very little |
The tank is the battery
With solar, store water, not electricity. A bigger overhead tank means you can pump only in the day and still have water at night and on cloudy days.
For landlords
A solar borehole is a great add for lodges and flats. Tenants get steady water. No fuel arguments. Read solar for landlords in Port Harcourt.
Full sizing guide: can solar power a borehole?
