Development and Performance Evaluation of a Mobile Solar Water Pump for Off-Grid Aquaculture

¹ Faculty of Civil Engineering Technology, Universiti Malaysia Pahang Al-Sultan Abdullah, 26300 Kuantan, Pahang, Malaysia
² Centre for Research in Advanced Fluid & Processes, Universiti Malaysia Pahang Al-Sultan Abdullah, 26300 Kuantan, Pahang, Malaysia
³ School of Engineering and the Built Environment, Birmingham City University, Birmingham, B4 7XG, United Kingdom.

^* Corresponding Authors: nadzirah@umpsa.edu.my

Abstract

The detrimental environmental impact of fossil fuels has prompted growing interest in integrating renewable energy sources into water pumping systems, particularly in off-grid aquaculture settings. In Peninsular Malaysia, with an average of six hours of sunlight daily, solar energy presents a viable solution for powering such systems. This study focuses on the development and performance evaluation of a mobile solar-powered water pump designed for aquaculture applications. The targeted fishpond site lacks grid access and faces challenges in water circulation and cleaning due to eutrophication and the inefficiency of conventional pumps. A solar-powered pumping system was designed and constructed, incorporating a solar charging station and water pump. To optimize performance, the solar panel’s orientation and tilt angle were adjusted, with the highest wattage output achieved at a 0–15° tilt facing south. The system demonstrated an average pump flow rate of 0.0787 L/s. Charging the battery to 55% capacity required approximately 4 hours of sunlight. At this flow rate, the pump can empty a 10-gallon aquarium in roughly 8 minutes and 20 seconds. This study demonstrates the potential of a mobile solar water pump system as a sustainable solution for remote aquaculture operations.