Solar water pumps can increase yields while reducing labor for farmers in developing countries who lack access to electricity, but commercial markets for these pumps are nascent.
The 2019 Global LEAP Awards Solar Water Pump Competition will identify and recognize innovative early-movers and best-in-class products in the pump market.
Nominations are open from 8 November 2018 through 18 January 2019. Manufacturers and distributors of solar water pumps are encouraged to nominate products. A manufacturer or distributor may nominate more than one product for one or multiple categories.
All nominated solar water pumps will undergo testing in an accredited laboratory and an evaluation by a panel of off-grid market experts to assess product energy performance, service delivery, quality, reliability, and affordability.
Products eligible for the Competition must be designed with specifications to operate efficiently in at least one of the following categories:
Solar water pumps have the potential to improve the lives and livelihoods of the nearly 500 million smallholder farmers worldwide who lack energy access by increasing productivity, yields, and incomes. Pumps can reduce the labor burden on women and girls in particular, unlocking direct educational and nutritional impacts.
Solar water pumps, however, present significant technical challenges since their performance is highly dependent on use case, intended application, size of the associated energy system, and other environmental factors.
By providing clear and actionable signals to the global off-grid market about solar water pump quality and performance, the 2019 Global LEAP Awards will help catalyze the commercial market for this life-changing technology.
