Solar at Work | Green Energy News

August 29, 2004 – Vol.9 No.23

SOLAR AT WORK.

Much of the focus on the development of solar energy has been for residential systems, grid connected solar power plants or large solar systems to power office buildings and such.

But photovoltaic systems are used around the world for specific tasks to do hard work such as pumping water for consumption or irrigation.

A large new solar-at-work project is about to get underway.

In a $2 million contract WorldWater Corporation will build a solar powered pumping system for an irrigation system at a citrus ranch in California. Claimed by WorldWater to be the largest solar-powered irrigation system on the planet, the grid-connected solar array will power a 200-horsepower pump. In cloudy days, or at night power is drawn from the grid to continue watering.

WorldWater’s patented technology - known as AquaMax(tm) - controls the flow of electricity from the solar system, connects to the grid if needed and can operate pumps up to 600 horsepower. The company has also completed a one-megawatt solar system for Cerro Coso Community College in Ridgecrest, California and is designing and installing the world’s largest solar powered commercial refrigeration system - a 350 horsepower hydracooler for a food processing facility in Edison, California.

Visit WorldWater at http://www.worldwater.com/