Clean Water and Solar Innovation Go Hand-in-Hand at Grundfos – Raveendra Bhat, Area Sales Director – Water Utility INDO- Region, Grundfos

Q. What are the core solar-powered solutions Grundfos currently offers for the water utility sector and how are these tailored for urban deployment?

Grundfos offers a variety of high-quality, innovative solar-powered solutions for the water utility sector:

• Grundfos Solar Pumping System (SQFlex): A submersible pump system with a built-in inverter for solar, wind, and AC power sources. Compatible with both AC and DC power channels, it features built-in controls and protection capabilities for smoother operations, making it ideal for community water supply and irrigation needs.
• Grundfos Solar Inverter (RSI): An off-grid solar inverter that forms an essential part of solar pumping systems. The RSI works with submersible, multistage, and single-stage pumps, allowing conventional Grundfos pumps to run efficiently on solar power.
• Grundfos Connect: A plug-and-play internet-based software system delivering efficient and cost-effective functions including monitoring, notifications, and reporting. The system includes integrated solar controllers and pressure management features for comprehensive system oversight.

These products are modular and scalable making them suitable for operation in dense city spaces. The products are also highly energy-efficient – designed to lower electricity costs and carbon footprints. The hybrid capabilities of the products (they can switch between solar and grid to ensure uninterrupted supply) and their ability to support the digitalization of urban infrastructure via data analytics and automation tools make them suitable for urban environments.

Q. How do Grundfos’ solar-powered pumps compare in terms of energy efficiency, lifecycle costs and maintenance requirements against traditional diesel or grid-powered pumps?

Grundfos solar solutions outperform traditional diesel pumps and grid-powered pumps on multiple counts.

With respect to energy efficiency, Grundfos solar pumps are more energy-efficient. They exhibit higher energy efficiency due to significant conversion of energy from solar to electric form. In the case of diesel pumps, significant energy is lost as heat. Grid-powered pumps may be more efficient than diesel pumps but they are dependent on grid stability – this means they may suffer from transmission losses in the face of grid instability or fluctuations.

Also, solar pumps use Maximum Power Point Tracking or MPPT – a mechanism that maximizes power output from solar panels. MPPT helps pumps optimize performance under varying sunlight conditions. Grundfos solar pumps also integrate Variable Frequency Drives to adjust motor speed for efficiency and performance. (VFD is a device used to control the speed of an electric motor by varying the frequency and voltage of the power supplied to it.)

With respect to lifecycle costs, Grundfos solar pumps incur initial capital cost, due to the use of solar panels and controllers. However, they incur low operating costs as solar energy is freely available. The return on investment improves over time due to the long lifespan of solar-powered pumps and low operational costs. By contrast, diesel and grid-powered pumps incur high operational costs due to fuel costs, fuel price volatility and electricity bills (in the case of grid-powered pumps). Diesel and grid-powered pumps have a shorter lifespan – this leads to higher long-term costs.

With respect to maintenance requirements, Grundfos solar pumps demand low maintenance as no combustion engines or fuel systems are part of the setup. The solar panels, however, have to be periodically cleaned. Basic system checks are imperative to the health of the pumps. Diesel and grid-powered pumps, by contrast, require frequent servicing, repeated fuel filter replacements and frequent engine maintenance. Grid-powered pumps are less maintenance-heavy than diesel pumps but involve servicing of electrical components and motor parts.

Q. What were the key drivers behind Grundfos’ decision to invest in solar-powered pump technology? Was it customer demand, policy direction or internal sustainability goals?

Grundfos’ decision to invest in solar-powered technology has been driven by a mix of strategic, environmental and market-related factors. At the heart of the decision is the sustainability factor – sustainability is the DNA of our brand. Sustainability influences our business at every step of the way, from conception to product development to recycling programmes. There has also been growing customer demand for solar-powered solutions and we as an established brand are cognizant of that. More consumers, businesses and communities are becoming eco-conscious and making demands for clean and cost-effective technologies such as solar pumps.

Government agendas have also played a key role in our approach to the development of solar solutions. Many countries have formulated policies and introduced incentives for the development of renewables. The regulatory environment globally has thus been conducive to the adoption of solar-powered solutions. We are also an innovation-conscious brand. We believe it is vital for us to innovate constantly and set new standards for the pumping solutions industry. We believe that being innovation-conscious will help us retain our position as market leaders. We also have a robust track record of formulating solar solutions for regions facing energy-access challenges – right from Kenya in Africa to Kashmir in India. All these factors have propelled us to design and offer innovative solar solutions and stay ahead of the curve.

We also take pride in saying that Grundfos reinvests a significant part of its profit every year in R&D to identify newer solutions and technologies in all spaces including renewables. We strive to constantly design solutions that are reliable, efficient, innovative and leave the lowest carbon footprint. These factors have guided us in our quest for optimum solar solutions.

Q. How do Grundfos’ solar initiatives align with India’s broader renewable energy targets?

Grundfos’ solar initiatives align with key government programmes such as the PM-KUSUM Scheme. The PM-KUSUM Scheme aims to enhance water security for farmers by providing reliable and sustainable energy for irrigation. This scheme also seeks to benefit drinking water supplies through efficient water management practices and reduced reliance on traditional water sources. (Component B of the Plan aims at an installation of 20 Lakh standalone solar-powered agricultural pumps while component C aims at solarisation of 15-lakh grid-connected agricultural pumps.) Grundfos initiatives are in line with this programme. The government has also announced a non-fossil fuel energy target of 500 GW by 2030. Solar energy is believed to constitute an important part of the energy mix.

Grundfos solar solutions also correspond with the AMRUT Scheme for rejuvenation and urban transformation. Solar-powered and IoT enabled pumps support the AMRUT mission (based on the PPP model) by ensuring energy-efficient and remotely-managed urban water infrastructure. The use of solar solutions in various water-related government programmes also promotes sustainable water extraction and supply. This is the key to managing India’s intertwined water and energy challenges.

Q. How does Grundfos envision its role in the global push for clean water access and renewable energy, especially through solar-powered infrastructure?

Grundfos has deployed solar-powered pumps such as SQFlex and SP Solar to deliver clean water to remote and off-grid areas across the world. This has reduced reliance on diesel and unstable grid power. A case in point is the successful installation of solar-powered pumps in Mount Rouge Olive Estate in South Africa, to ensure a drip irrigation system waters over 400 acres of olive trees. By venturing into uncharted territories, Grundfos has emerged as a leader globally.

Grundfos is also a brand that is committed to sustainability targets. The company has sought to reduce its carbon footprint, including a 50% reduction in absolute scope 1 and 2 greenhouse gas emissions by 2030 and achieve net-zero emissions by 2050. (Absolute scope 1 and 2 GHG emissions refer to the total amount of greenhouse gases directly emitted from a company’s owned or controlled sources (Scope 1) and indirectly emitted from the generation of purchased electricity, steam, heat or cooling (Scope 2))

On the collaborations front, Grundfos has partnered with organizations such as ADRA to provide access to clean water to 1.5 million people in Africa, Asia and other parts of the world. This effort relied on innovative water technologies such as automated water dispensers and solar-powered water pumps to replace hand pumps and provide water to the people. Grundfos also partnered with local entities in the Kashmir Valley to erect 36 solar pumping stations and provide drinking water to more than 50,000 people. 

In line with its identity, Grundfos has also designed CSR activities that align with UN Goal 6 (Clean Water and Sanitation) of the UN Sustainable Development Goals. For instance, a pond in Thazambedu, Chennai was purified with a solar pump to provide drinking water to the community. By empowering communities locally, Grundfos has established itself as an active participant in the global push for clean water and renewable energy through solar infrastructure.

Q. What emerging technologies or trends does Grundfos believe will reshape the solar water pump industry?

We at Grundfos are focused on combining smart technology with sustainable solutions to tackle some of the world’s biggest water challenges. Our IoT-enabled pumps allow for real-time monitoring and remote control, optimizing performance. We see IoT integration as a transformative force in the industry, enabling predictive maintenance and data-driven operations. Complementing this is our hybrid SQFlex system which seamlessly switches between AC and DC power, ensuring consistent water supply even when sunlight is variable.

Q. What role do you see for partnerships—with governments, NGOs, or private stakeholders—in accelerating solar-powered water solutions globally?

With reference to collaborations, Grundfos has partnered with World Vision – the largest non-governmental provider of clean water in the developing world – and the Stone Family Foundation to bring water to over 20,000 people in Kenya by setting up Water ATMs. Grundfos has also partnered with World Vision Zambia through its WASH programme (Water, Sanitation and Hygiene) to provide SQ Flex solar water pumps and provide clean water to people.

Grundfos has an overarching ambition to reach 300 million people with access to clean drinking water by 2030. We firmly believe that partnerships form the cornerstone of our approach to realizing this goal. We look forward to partnering with key stakeholders – such as governments implementing renewable energy policies, NGOs with deep community connections and private sector entities bringing complementary technologies – to move closer to bringing safe and clean water to untouched regions.