Solar Water Pump Sizing Calculator
Size the PV array for an off-grid irrigation pump from daily water need, head and pump efficiency.
Solar pumps replace diesel for irrigation across sunbelt farms. As a quick proxy, express the pump's daily energy as a 'bill' at your diesel-equivalent rate and the tool returns the PV kW to run it — a 5 HP pump drawing ~3.7 kW for 6 hours needs ≈22 kWh/day, which the local sun must supply. For PM-KUSUM subsidy slabs, size to the next standard pump rating.
500 kWh/month × 90% target ÷ (5.2 kWh/kWp/day × 30.4) = 2.8 kW. Round up to the nearest panel string your inverter supports.
Indicative estimates only, not financial or investment advice. Tariffs, subsidies and net-metering rules change — verify with your DISCOM, utility or installer before committing.
Disclaimer: This tool is for general informational and estimation purposes only and is not professional financial, tax, accounting or legal advice. All figures are estimates — verify with a qualified professional before making decisions. Read the full disclaimer.
Use the free Solar Water Pump Sizing Calculator online — Size the PV array for an off-grid irrigation pump from daily water need, head and pump efficiency. Runs instantly in your browser: no signup, no upload, mobile-friendly.
About Solar Water Pump Sizing Calculator
Solar pumps replace diesel for irrigation across sunbelt farms. As a quick proxy, express the pump's daily energy as a 'bill' at your diesel-equivalent rate and the tool returns the PV kW to run it — a 5 HP pump drawing ~3.7 kW for 6 hours needs ≈22 kWh/day, which the local sun must supply. For PM-KUSUM subsidy slabs, size to the next standard pump rating.
How to use Solar Water Pump Sizing Calculator
- 1Enter your average monthly bill and the per-unit tariff from it.
- 2Pick your bill-offset target (100% = offset everything the rules allow).
- 3Read the recommended kW, panel count at your chosen wattage, and the roof area required.
Why use Solar Water Pump Sizing Calculator?
- ✓Works backwards from the bill — the number you actually know
- ✓Region-correct yield baked in, so the same bill gives different (correct) sizes in different cities
- ✓Returns panel count and roof-area needs alongside the kW figure
- ✓Offset target slider handles net-metering caps and partial-offset strategies
Frequently asked questions
How many solar panels do I need for my monthly bill?+
Divide the bill by the tariff to get monthly kWh, then divide by your region's per-kW monthly yield (≈110–135 kWh/kW in sunny India). A ₹4,000 bill at ₹8/unit (500 kWh) typically needs 3.5–4.5 kW — seven to nine 550 W panels. This calculator does exactly that math with local values.
How much roof area does a solar system need?+
Modern 540–580 W panels occupy ~2.6 m² each; with walkways and spacing, budget 80–100 sq ft (7.5–9.5 m²) per kW for flat roofs. A typical 3 kW home system needs roughly 250–300 sq ft of shade-free area.
Should I size for 100% of my bill?+
Usually 80–95%. Net-metering rules may cap capacity at your sanctioned load, slabs mean your last units are the cheapest to leave on the grid in some states, and consumption varies seasonally. Oversizing into low-value exports rarely pays — check your state's settlement rules.
What if my consumption grows after installing?+
Solar scales: leave inverter headroom (DC/AC ratio up to 1.3) or wall space for a second string. EV purchases and new ACs typically add 100–400 kWh/month — if those are planned within two years, size for them now; module additions later cost more per watt than doing it once.
Embed Solar Water Pump Sizing Calculator on your website
Want Solar Water Pump Sizing Calculatoron your own site? Paste this snippet into any HTML page — it's free, with no API key or sign-up. The tool loads in an iframe and keeps working exactly as it does here.
<iframe src="https://tooljolt.com/tools/solar-water-pump-sizing-calculator" width="100%" height="640" style="border:1px solid #e5e7eb;border-radius:12px;max-width:680px" title="Solar Water Pump Sizing Calculator — ToolJolt" loading="lazy"></iframe>Related Energy tools
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