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Solar Water Pumps

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.

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2019 Global LEAP Awards Solar Water Pump Competition

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. All Global LEAP Awards Winners and Finalists undergo testing by accredited laboratories for their energy performance, quality, and reliability, and an evaluation by a panel of off-grid market experts. Detailed information about all twenty-seven Winners and Finalists—including product performance data and sales contact information—is available in the 2019 Global LEAP Awards Buyer’s Guide for Solar Water Pumps.

Winners and Finalists of the 2019 Global LEAP Awards Solar Water Pump competition will receive the following benefits:

  • Find potential investors through the newly-formed Efficiency for Access Coalition Investor Network. Convened by Acumen, the network includes Shell Foundation and 18 other leading investment organizations.
  • Participation in a global promotional campaign, including opportunities to interface with distributors and investors in key markets.
  • Eligibility for financing programs, innovation prizes and other benefits including including Global LEAP results-based financing incentives.
SWP Refrigerator GL Timeline
India Water Pump Prashanth Vishwanathan IWMI 8605978bbdfb91db619e5e1771375dc4

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.