News

SunWize Completes Photovoltaic Water Pumping Project

August 27, 2001 by Jeff Shepard

SunWize Technologies (Kingston, NY) designed and supervised the installation of one of the largest photovoltaic water pumping

systems in the US at the Cottonwood Campground for Joshua Tree National Park in Southern California. The photovoltaic system replaces a diesel generator that was the sole power source for the water system.

The 7.2kW photovoltaic array powers a 5HP, 230V, three-phase standard submersible pump with a total dynamic head of 400ft to produce 10,000 gallons of water per day. The 80,000-gallon storage tank serves the campground with an average 2,500 gallons per day use. The solar pump controller runs during daylight hours pumping water into the storage tank - no batteries are needed.