A Survey of Groundwater Pumping Technologies for Electricity Generation Through Hydropower

Abstract

Water is a universal need of every living organism, it is one of the leading elements of economic development through agricultural sector (farming). However, many South African farms have both challenges of water and electricity supply. The country runs its energy harness on both renewable and nonrenewable energy sources. This paper will review different groundwater pumping methods/ technologies looking at the South African context and find opportunities of using this set up to generate electricity. Therefore, different technologies will be analysed in terms of operation principle, cost, advantages, disadvantages and applicability. Furthermore, after the pumping infrastructure, different storage system as well as type equipment for the conversion of potential energy in water into electricity will be also presented.