The Journey of Grundfos’ Solar-powered Pumps Grundfos began exploring the possibility of harvesting solar energy in 1980 when interest in climate change and sustainability started to boom. We were investigating the feasibility of a solar-powered pump and that very year, the United Nations Development Program (UNDP) launched a solar pump system competition. We pursued the challenge enthusiastically and finally introduced our first solar-driven pump system to the world in 1982. We won the competition much to our delight. Today, almost four decades later, our repertoire boasts of robust solar pumps that continue to uphold the Grundfos mantle of sustainability and clean energy. Our SQFlex family of pumps that run purely on the planet’s most abundant energy source—sunlight, was created to be an environmentally-friendly water supply solution in remote areas. It uses solar energy efficiently and supplies water where it is scarce even when the power supply is non-existent or unreliable. This pump relies on solar panels and wind turbines that adapt to the characteristic weather profile of any given area. An added advantage for remote areas is the easy installation and maintenance it offers. Another solar-powered innovation of ours is the Solar Powered (SP) Submersible pump. It is a highly efficient and corrosion resistant pump. Its state-of-theart hydraulic design relies on solar energy to deliver optimum efficiency during periods of high demand. SP pumps provide low long-term costs and high operating reliability regardless of the application. These pumps can be used for groundwater supply to waterworks, irrigation in horticulture and agriculture, groundwater lowering, pressure boosting and industrial applications. We have sold over 30,000 solar-powered pumps across the country as of date, creating a positive impact on the socio-economic lives of thousands of people in rural India. It solved several core challenges such as poverty, unemployment, access to food supplies and water availability. India’s total solar power capacity stands at 7% in 2018. We hope to boost the use of sustainable products further to ensure a more stable future for the country. One of our early installations of the SQFlex pump was at Auroville’s Buddha Garden. A key ideal that drives the Auroville community in Puducherry is sustainable living; something Grundfos has in common with them. Within the heart of Auroville, one can find several farms maintained by residents and volunteers that support this eco-friendly lifestyle. However, a lack of water with groundwater being the only viable source to support their agricultural needs was a challenge for the residents. This is where the SQFlex pump came to the aid of the Buddha Garden. Set up in partnership with the local Sunlit Future company, the pump enabled the little patch of land to flourish and its caretakers to grow food when other farmers struggled to raise a respectable yield.
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