INTRODUCTION
There are two major classifications of PV solar power systems - stand alone and grid connected 1]. For this project a stand alone photovoltaic solar system was designed, simulated and constructed to pump water in rural areas and for pool pumping in urban households.
PV systems convert solar energy into electric energy. They consist of solar cells comprising two layers of semiconductor materials. An electric field is built in the p-n junction between the materials.
Absorption of energy photons greater than the band gap energy of the semi-conductor promotes electrons from the valence band to the conduction band and creating holeelectron pairs throughout the illuminated part of the semiconductor [2]. DC power is created in the external contacts when the electron and hole pairs flow in different directions through the p-n junction.
PV systems are a reliable means of generating power for applications such as rural electrification and domestic water pumping because of their low operation and maintenance costs.Since South Africa is blessed with ample sunshine solar power could be a solution to taking electricity to remote area.
Pool pumps are the third highest consumer of household energy [3], and Eskom continues to urge consumers to reduce pool pump operation [4]. South Africa had around one million pools and that figure is expected to grow at 3% annually [5]. The Department of Minerals and Energy encourages use of renewable energy and set a target of 10 000 GWh from renewable source for 2013 [6]. The department’s integrated plan of 2011 proposed an energy generation mix for 2030 - a reduction of 34% in carbon emissions by that date.