No Eskom Power Needed · Pumps in Daylight

Solar Borehole Pumps South Africa

Solar borehole pump kit prices and installed system prices, with sizing rules and payback worked out from the figures on this page.

Last reviewed 2 October 2026. Prices are market indications from published South African guides and retailer listings, not quotes.

Get Solar Pump Quotes

Why Choose Solar for Your Borehole?

No Electricity Cost

Free energy from the sun. A grid pump running 4 hours a day can cost R400 - R900 a month in electricity. Servicing and pump replacement still apply.

Independent of Eskom

Runs from the panels in daylight, so load shedding does not stop it. Store water in a tank for night and cloudy spells.

Few Moving Parts

No fuel and no engine. Clean the panels, check the tank float switch, and budget for pump servicing at R1,500 - R5,000.

Pump 8-15 Years, Panels About 25

The panels are warrantied for 25 years, but the pump typically lasts 8 to 15 years, so budget for a replacement.

Solar Borehole Pump Kit Prices: Supply Only vs Installed

A kit price and an installed price are very different numbers. The pump and controller are the smaller part of the cost: panels, mounting, a storage tank and installation come on top.

Pump and controller, supply only

R5,999 - R13,490

Retail listings, 13 September 2026. Panels extra.

Complete system, installed

R18,000 - R120,000

Depends on depth, flow and what is included.

Solar pump and controller listings (supply only)

Pump	Retailer	Listed Price	Maximum Head	Note
210 W solar pump kit (3-inch)	JoJo	R5,999	Not stated	Sold as a kit
120 W screw pump and controller	The Sun Pays	R6,350	56m	Panels not included
210 W screw pump and controller	The Sun Pays	R6,274	77m	Panels not included
500 W screw pump and controller	The Sun Pays	R6,990	109m	Panels not included
750 W centrifugal pump and controller	The Sun Pays	R7,590	95m	Panels not included
1,100 W centrifugal pump and controller	The Sun Pays	R8,290	123m	Panels not included
1,500 W centrifugal pump and controller	The Sun Pays	R9,590	140m	Panels not included
1,500 W centrifugal pump and controller	The Sun Pays	R13,490	203m	Panels not included

The Sun Pays listings also state a maximum submersion of 30 metres below the water level, so check how deep the pump would hang.

Installed system prices by depth and flow

System	Depth to Water	Typical Flow	Installed Price
Shallow domestic	10-40m	1,000 - 3,000 L/day	R25,000 - R45,000
Mid-depth household	40-80m	3,000 - 8,000 L/day	R45,000 - R80,000
Deep or high-flow	80-150m	8,000 - 20,000 L/day	R80,000 - R120,000
Farm or irrigation	150m and deeper	20,000+ L/day	R120,000+

Energybee, July 2026. Prices include VAT, the pump, controller, panels, mounting and standard installation. The same guide puts a typical mid-depth household system that replaces a diesel or grid pump at about R55,000 - R70,000 installed.

Installed system prices by what is included

System	What Is Included	Installed Price
Basic DC system	Shallow borehole, 2 panels, small tank	R18,000 - R35,000
Mid-range system	3-4 panels, 2,500 litre tank, quality controller	R35,000 - R65,000
Full residential system	4-6 panels, 5,000 litre tank, pressure pump, filtration	R65,000 - R120,000

Borehole Hub, April 2026. The two guides group systems differently, so a tank, pressure pump or filtration may be in one quote and not another. Ask for each item.

What Size Solar Pump and How Many Panels?

Sizing depends on total head, your daily water demand and your borehole yield. Total head is the lift from the pumping water level to the tank plus friction in the pipe, so it is not the same as borehole depth. Flow is always quoted at a stated head: check the pump curve.

Total Head	Daily Water Demand	Suggested Pump	Solar Array	Panels (approx)
Up to 40m	1,000 - 2,500 L	0.37 - 0.55 kW	0.7 - 1.1 kW	2-3
40-80m	2,500 - 6,000 L	0.75 - 1.1 kW	1.5 - 2.2 kW	4-6
80-120m	6,000 - 12,000 L	1.5 - 2.2 kW	2.2 - 3.5 kW	6-10
120-180m	12,000 - 20,000 L	3 - 4 kW	4.5 - 6.5 kW	12-18

Energybee. Rule of thumb: solar array in kW is about the pump motor rating times 1.3 to 1.5. One other guide says a 750 W pump running 6 hours a day moves roughly 9,000 - 15,000 litres into a tank, about 1,500 - 2,500 litres an hour.

Payback, Worked From the Numbers

Months to repay is the system price divided by the monthly saving. The electricity saving of R400 - R900 a month is published for a submersible pump running 4 hours a day on grid power. Against diesel the saving is much bigger.

Case	Monthly Saving	Months to Repay	Years
Grid pump, 4 hours a day, R35,000 solar system	R900 a month	39	3.2
Grid pump, 4 hours a day, R35,000 solar system	R400 a month	88	7.3
Grid pump, 4 hours a day, R65,000 solar system	R900 a month	72	6.0
Grid pump, 4 hours a day, R65,000 solar system	R400 a month	163	13.5
Farm replacing diesel at R4,000 a month, R90,000 solar system	R4,000 a month	22.5	1.9

Published estimates vary: one guide says 2 to 5 years against a diesel or grid pump, another says 6 to 13 years on electricity savings alone for a R65,000 system. The table leaves out pump servicing, a pump replacement every 8 to 15 years, and a tank if it is not in the price.

Solar Borehole Pump Brands

Brands are listed for orientation only. We do not rank or endorse brands. When you request quotes, ask about the controller brand, the cable sizing calculation and the warranty on both pump and panels.

Grundfos SQFlex

Denmark

Solar-direct pump range designed for variable voltage

Lorentz

Germany

Solar pump systems with controllers

Franklin Electric SubDrive Solar

USA

Adapts standard Franklin AC submersible pumps for solar operation

Bundu Power

South Africa

Supplier of solar borehole pumps

Solar Borehole Pump FAQs

How much does a solar borehole pump kit cost in South Africa?

Solar pump and controller listings on 13 September 2026 ran from R5,999 to R13,490, with panels bought separately. A complete installed system, with panels, mounting, controller and installation, is R25,000 - R45,000 for a shallow domestic borehole, R45,000 - R80,000 for a mid-depth household, and R80,000 - R120,000 for deep or high-flow holes. Farm and irrigation systems start at R120,000. A storage tank may be extra, so check the quote.

Do solar borehole pumps work during load shedding?

Yes. A solar pump has no connection to Eskom, so load shedding does not stop it. It pumps while the sun is up and fills a storage tank, and you draw from the tank at any hour. Pumping stops at night and drops on cloudy days unless you add batteries or a grid or generator backup.

How many solar panels do I need for a borehole pump?

A common rule is a solar array of about 1.3 to 1.5 times the pump motor rating. One guide says a 0.75 kW pump typically needs 3 to 4 panels, a 1.5 kW pump 6 to 8 panels and a 4 kW pump about 14 to 18 panels. The exact number depends on head, daily water demand and panel wattage, so your installer should size it.

Do I need batteries for a solar borehole pump?

Usually not. Most solar borehole pumps run direct from the panels and store water in a tank instead of storing energy in batteries. One guide suggests a tank big enough for at least one full day of demand, and ideally two to three days to ride out cloudy spells.

Can I convert my existing borehole pump to solar?

Often, yes. An AC submersible pump can usually be driven by a solar inverter or variable speed drive, or you can replace it with a DC solar pump. The right choice depends on your pump, depth and whether you want a grid or generator backup, so ask an installer to assess your setup.

How long do solar borehole pumps last?

The pump typically lasts 8 to 15 years and the solar panels are warrantied for 25 years, so budget for a pump replacement during the life of the panels. Pump servicing is typically R1,500 - R5,000.

Go Solar on Your Borehole

Send us the details and we pass your request to companies listed for your area, and they contact you directly. Ask each one to price the same scope, including panels, tank and installation.

Get Solar Pump Quotes

Sources

Borehole Hub: borehole pump prices (solar pump and controller listings, 13 September 2026)
Energybee: solar borehole pumps in South Africa (installed prices by depth, sizing table, pump and panel life, diesel example)
Borehole Hub: solar borehole pump guide (installed system tiers, electricity cost of a grid pump, daily output, payback)
Enviroleg: borehole maintenance prices (pump servicing cost)