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[[Image: solar pump icon.png|right|80px]]
[[Image:SolarGrid.jpg|thumb|right|200px|Kalalé District consists of 44 villages (~100,000 people), none of which are connected to the town of Benin’s electric power grid. They use solar instead. <br>Photo: [http://www.bobfreling.com/2009/08/solar-energy-powering-food-sec.htm Bob Freling's Solar Blog.]]]
With solar water systems the water is pumped during the peak sunshine hours of the day. It can be stored in a tank, and therefore it is not necessary to use batteries. The storage tank can be sized to provide some reserve during cloudy or rainy days. In sub-Saharan Africa the typical storage is about 3 to 5 days of water demand. In environments where rainy seasons occur, rainwater harvesting can offset the reduced output of the solar pump during this period.
To properly size the size of solar panel(s) needed, refer to [http://artplatformwww.unicef.org/washsupply/UNICEF_WASH_Technology_webindex_54301.pdf html WASH Technology Information Packages], pages 130 & 131. Before that are great maps showing solar ranges and intensities in different regions of the world.
===Construction, operations and maintenance===
===Field experiences===
[[Image:solar market garden.jpg|thumb|right|200px|Solar Market Garden project hooks up solar panels to a drip-system. Photo: [http://www.self.org/benin.shtml Solar Electric Light Fund.]]]
For the first time, women farmers in the rural villages of Bessassi and Dunkassa, in northern Benin, are able to grow vegetables and fruits during the six month dry season, improving food security and nutrition for themselves and their families. Farmers are also increasing their income by selling excess crops in the market. Now entering its third year, [http://www.self.org/benin.shtml current-projects/ SELF's Solar Market Garden project] has proved that solar energy can provide long term solutions to hunger, malnutrition and poverty in developing nations.
In addition, since December 2010, the villagers of Bessassi and Dunkassa now have access to clean drinking water via water wells powered by custom arrays of solar-panels ranging from 1.2 - 4 kW. This particular combination is not only a long-term solution, but can also be replicated all over the African continent.
===Acknowledgements===
* [http://artplatformwww.unicef.org/washsupply/UNICEF_WASH_Technology_webindex_54301.pdf html WASH Technology Information Packages – for UNICEF WASH Programme and Supply Personnel.] UNICEF, 2010.* Brikke, François, and Bredero, Maarten. [httphttps://www.who.int/water_sanitation_health/hygienepublications/omlinking-technology-choice-with-o-m-in-ws/wsh9241562153en/en Linking technology choice with operation and maintenance in the context of community water supply and sanitation: A reference document for planners and project staff]. World Health Organization and IRC Water and Sanitation Centre. Geneva, Switzerland 2003.
