Feasibility Study for Implementing Renewable Energy to Power a Groundwater Pump in Rural Guatemala
Abstract
Communities in rural Guatemala often struggle with obtaining adequate, clean drinking water. A deep groundwater well can provide a clean and sustainable water source for near-by communities. To obtain the groundwater, an electric submersible pump must be installed in the well. Utility power in rural Guatemala can be unreliable and expensive, thus a study has been conducted to establish if using alternative energy is sustainable and economically viable for a groundwater pump for a rural Guatemalan community. The study focused on effectiveness, reliability and cost. A weather station was erected in Sacala las Lomas to collect baseline data for the feasibility study. Wind velocity, wind direction, solar radiation, temperature, precipitation and barometric pressure data were collected. The data were analyzed to determine the potential power generated with solar and wind power. Although the location was in a particularly superior location for sun and wind exposure, installing solar panels and/or a wind turbine would not be feasible for supplying the amount of energy required for a submersible groundwater pump that would meet the needs of the community.
Recommended Citation
W. Granich and A. C. Elmore, "Feasibility Study for Implementing Renewable Energy to Power a Groundwater Pump in Rural Guatemala," Proceedings of the World Environmental and Water Resources Congress (2009, Kansas City, MO), vol. 342, pp. 3859 - 3868, American Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE), May 2009.
The definitive version is available at https://doi.org/10.1061/41036(342)389
Meeting Name
World Environmental and Water Resources Congress (2009: May 17-21, Kansas City, MO)
Department(s)
Geosciences and Geological and Petroleum Engineering
Keywords and Phrases
Alternative energy; Barometric pressure; Baseline data; Deep groundwaters; Drinking water; Electric submersible pumps; Feasibility studies; Guatemala; Potential power; Renewable energies; Solar panels; Sustainable water; Utility power; Weather stations; Wind directions; Wind velocities; Atmospheric pressure; Decision making; Hydrogeology; Planning; Potable water; Resource allocation; Solar energy; Submersibles; Sun; Water conservation; Wind power; Water resources
Geographic Coverage
Guatemala
International Standard Book Number (ISBN)
978-0784410363
Document Type
Article - Conference proceedings
Document Version
Citation
File Type
text
Language(s)
English
Rights
© 2009 American Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE), All rights reserved.
Publication Date
01 May 2009
