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Which Solar Pump Company Is Best?
There is no single solar pump company that is best for every water system. The right choice depends on where the water comes from, how high it must be lifted, how much water you need, and what power sources are available.
For most homeowners and small off-grid water systems, Grundfos is a strong all-around starting point. Its SQFlex line can run from solar DC power or AC power, includes built-in electronics, and covers both low-flow, high-lift jobs and higher-flow applications.
LORENTZ is especially strong when solar pumping is the main purpose of the system. It offers a much broader range of dedicated solar pumping systems, from small pumps to large irrigation systems.
Franklin Electric is another good choice for groundwater systems, especially when you want the pump, motor, and solar controller supplied as a matched package. Its SolarPAK systems also offer options that can use solar power with AC backup.
As of September 2026, these three companies are useful places to start when comparing established solar pumping systems.
Quick Comparison of Solar Pump Companies
| Company | Best Fit | Main Strength |
|---|---|---|
| Grundfos | Homes, wells, livestock water, small irrigation, off-grid water | Flexible AC/DC operation and integrated controls |
| LORENTZ | Dedicated solar pumping and larger irrigation systems | Very broad solar-specific pump range |
| Franklin Electric | Wells and packaged groundwater systems | Pump, motor, and solar control packages |
The company name should not be your first sizing decision. A properly sized pump from any of these companies can be a much better choice than an incorrectly sized pump from the company you prefer.
Grundfos: A Strong All-Around Choice
Grundfos is a good company to look at when you want a solar pump that can work in several types of water systems.
Its SQFlex range is designed for remote water supply and can use both AC and DC power. That means the pump can operate from solar panels while still allowing another suitable power source in a properly designed system.
SQFlex pumps are available with two main pump designs.
A helical rotor pump usually suits lower-flow jobs where the water must be lifted a long distance.
A centrifugal pump is often better when you need more flow at a lower or moderate lift.
Current SQFlex literature shows models covering very different combinations of flow and lift, including configurations reaching substantial pumping depths and others designed for much higher flow. The correct model depends on the pump curve rather than the maximum number printed on a brochure.
Another useful feature is Maximum Power Point Tracking, or MPPT. This electronic control adjusts operation as the available solar power changes. Grundfos also builds several protection and control functions into the SQFlex system.
Grundfos also has a large service network. Its current support information lists service centers in more than 50 countries and more than 600 authorized service partners. Availability still varies by location, so check local parts and service before buying.
Grundfos May Be Best If You Need
- A solar-powered well pump for a home or cabin
- AC backup as well as solar power
- A pump for livestock watering
- Moderate irrigation
- A well-established service network
- A system with integrated electronic protection
It may be more pump than you need if you only want to move rainwater a short distance from an above-ground tank to a nearby garden.
LORENTZ: Strong for Dedicated Solar Pumping
LORENTZ focuses heavily on solar-powered water movement. That makes it especially useful when solar is not just an optional power source but a central part of the pumping system.
Its PS2 systems cover small and medium solar pumping applications. The range includes submersible, surface, and other pump configurations and spans systems from about 100 watts to 4 kilowatts.
LORENTZ also offers larger systems. Its published specifications show PS2 pump configurations reaching up to 78 cubic meters per hour and lifts up to 450 meters, while its larger PSk family covers much greater flow for applications such as irrigation. Those figures are range limits, not numbers every pump can achieve at the same time.
That last point matters with all pumps.
A pump might produce a high flow when lifting water only a short distance. The same pump will usually produce less flow as the required lift increases.
LORENTZ uses a partner network for sales, installation, and support rather than selling its systems directly to end users. The company states that its partners receive training and technical support for specifying and installing its systems.
LORENTZ May Be Best If You Need
- A system designed mainly around solar power
- A deep-well solar installation
- Agricultural water pumping
- Larger irrigation flow
- A professionally sized solar pump system
- A local installer familiar with solar pumping
For a complex irrigation or deep-well project, having a knowledgeable local installer can matter just as much as the pump brand.
Franklin Electric: Strong for Packaged Well Systems
Franklin Electric is well known for groundwater pumps, motors, and pump controls. Its solar systems bring those parts together into matched packages.
The current SubDrive SolarPAK package includes a Franklin Electric submersible pump, motor, solar controller, and flow switch. Models cover several different flow and motor sizes.
The controller uses MPPT and provides built-in diagnostics and protection. It can also accept DC solar power and AC backup power in compatible installations.
Franklin also offers its Fhoton SolarPAK range as another solar-powered pumping system.
The company provides technical support for water-system professionals and field troubleshooting, although the level of local support will depend on where you live.
Franklin Electric May Be Best If You Need
- A solar-powered groundwater pump
- Pump, motor, and controller components designed to work together
- Higher well-water flow
- Solar operation with suitable AC backup
- Access to an experienced Franklin Electric installer or distributor
The Best Solar Pump for a Rainwater Tank May Be Different
If you collect rainwater, do not automatically buy a solar well pump.
A deep-well solar pump is designed to overcome substantial lift. A rainwater tank sitting beside a house may only need to move water a few feet vertically before sending it through a garden hose or irrigation line.
For an above-ground rain barrel, IBC tote, or storage tank, a smaller surface or tank pump may make more sense.
Start by identifying the job.
For example, you might need to:
- Move water from a tank to drip irrigation
- Fill another storage tank uphill
- Supply a garden hose
- Move water from an underground cistern
- Supply a pressure tank
- Pump from a deep well into rainwater or other storage
Each job creates a different flow and pressure requirement.
Buying a large solar well pump for a simple garden line can make the system harder to power and control without providing a useful benefit.
Check Head Height Before Choosing a Brand
Head height is the resistance the pump must overcome while moving water.
Vertical lift is part of it, but it is not the whole calculation.
You also need to consider:
- Height from the water level to the discharge point
- Pipe length
- Pipe diameter
- Fittings and valves
- Filters
- Required outlet pressure
A pump moving water 100 feet through narrow pipe has to work harder than a pump sending water the same vertical distance through properly sized pipe.
Manufacturers publish pump curves showing the relationship between head and flow.
Do not choose a pump from its maximum flow number alone.
Check the Flow Rate You Actually Need
Flow rate is how much water the pump moves during a certain amount of time. It may be listed in gallons per minute, liters per minute, or cubic meters per hour.
Examine the performance of solar powered water pumps to assess lift, suction, and safeguard requirements for the setup.
More flow is not automatically better.
A drip irrigation system might need relatively little water at one time. Filling a large storage tank may benefit from much greater flow.
Your water source also limits what makes sense.
A high-output pump cannot continuously remove more water from a well than the well can supply without risking low-water conditions. Likewise, a tank pump needs controls that keep it from running after the tank becomes empty.
Match the Solar Array to the Pump
A solar pump and a solar panel are not automatically compatible just because both use DC electricity.
Check the pump or controller requirements for:
- Input voltage range
- Maximum allowable voltage
- Required power
- Solar panel arrangement
- Controller type
- Wire length and wire size
Solar panel voltage changes with temperature and operating conditions. A poorly designed array can fall outside the controller's acceptable range.
Larger or higher-voltage solar pumping systems should be designed and wired by a qualified installer familiar with DC electrical systems.
Look for Dry-Run Protection
Dry running happens when a pump continues operating without enough water around or through it.
Depending on the pump design, this can damage the pump.
Dry-run protection is especially useful for wells, cisterns, and rainwater tanks where the water level can change.
Grundfos SQFlex includes dry-run protection among its system protections.
Other systems may use sensors, flow switches, float switches, or controller functions.
Do not assume a pump has dry-run protection without checking the documentation for the exact model and controller.
Think About Water Storage Instead of Batteries
Many solar water systems can use the storage tank itself to handle changes in sunshine.
During sunny periods, the pump moves water into a tank. Water is then available later even when the pump is not operating.
This can sometimes avoid the added parts involved with battery storage.
Whether that approach works depends on your daily water use, available storage, pump output, and expected solar conditions. Critical household water systems may require backup power or another reliable water source.
Check Local Service Before Buying
Solar pumps can operate in places far from normal utility services. That makes repair access important.
Before choosing a company, find out whether you can obtain:
- Replacement pump parts
- Controllers
- Water-level sensors
- Cables and connectors
- Technical support
- A qualified installer
- Local repair service
A pump that looks excellent on paper can become inconvenient if its controller fails and replacement parts are difficult to obtain.
This is one reason established local support can outweigh small differences between pump brands.
Do Not Forget the Water Itself
A pump only moves water. It does not make the water clean or safe to drink.
Roof runoff can contain dirt, animal waste, microorganisms, chemicals, and material washed from roofing and gutters.
If rainwater will be used for drinking, the entire collection and treatment system needs to be considered. That can include suitable collection surfaces, debris control, first-flush management, storage, treatment, maintenance, and current laboratory testing.
A first flush device diverts some of the earliest roof runoff so that part of the dirt washed from the roof does not immediately enter storage.
A solar pump, filter, UV unit, or other single device should not be treated as proof that collected rainwater is potable. Potable means suitable for drinking.
Follow applicable local drinking-water and plumbing requirements when rainwater will enter a household water system.
Which Company Should You Choose?
For a typical small or medium off-grid well or household water project, Grundfos is a good company to compare first because SQFlex combines flexible AC/DC operation, several pump types, integrated electronics, and broad service support.
Choose LORENTZ when you want a company focused heavily on purpose-built solar pumping, especially for agricultural, deep-well, or larger-volume systems.
Choose Franklin Electric when a packaged groundwater system with matched pump, motor, and solar control equipment fits your installation.
For a simple rainwater barrel or storage tank, however, none of those names should automatically determine your purchase. Start with the required flow, total head, water source, pipe size, power supply, and controls. Then choose the pump company that has a correctly sized model and dependable local support.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Grundfos or LORENTZ better for a solar pump?
Grundfos is a strong choice for smaller household, well, livestock, and off-grid systems where flexible AC/DC operation is useful. LORENTZ has a particularly broad range of dedicated solar pumping systems and can be a better fit for specialized agricultural or larger pumping projects.
What is the best solar pump company for a deep well?
Grundfos, LORENTZ, and Franklin Electric all make systems for well pumping. The best choice depends on well depth, pumping water level, required flow, pipe losses, and available solar power. Do not select a deep-well pump from horsepower or maximum flow alone.
Can I connect a solar pump directly to a solar panel?
Some solar pumps are designed for direct solar operation through built-in electronics or a dedicated controller. Others are not. The panel array voltage, power, wiring, and controller requirements must match the exact pump system.
Do I need batteries for a solar water pump?
Not always. Many systems pump water while sunlight is available and store the water in a tank for later use. Batteries may be useful in systems that require pumping at specific times or need dependable operation without sufficient sunlight.
What size solar pump do I need for a rainwater tank?
Size the pump from the required flow and total head, not simply from tank capacity. Include the vertical rise, pipe length, fittings, filters, and pressure needed at the outlet. A small garden system may require far less pump capacity than a deep-well system.
Can a solar pump run a garden irrigation system?
Yes, if the pump can provide the required flow and pressure at the irrigation system's total head. Drip irrigation, sprinklers, and tank filling can have very different pressure requirements, so the pump curve should be checked before installation.
Does a solar pump make rainwater safe to drink?
No. A pump only moves water. Drinking-water use requires a suitable collection, storage, treatment, testing, and maintenance system that follows applicable local requirements.
