Techno-economic analysis of a standalone solar PV with groundwater pumped-hydro-storage system

South Africa is highly relying on the agricultural sector for market strengthening. Most farms are located in remote areas. This makes it difficult for farmers to receive quality water and reliable power supply. Supplying water through municipal pipelines is a reliable option. However, it comes with techno-economic challenges such as distance and the nature of the terrain. Therefore, pumping ground water has been a preferred option for farmers. This is due to the ease of water access when needed and can be pumped near the point of use. This paper determines the optimal size of the proposed standalone solar Photovoltaic (PV) with underground pumped-hydro storage (UPHS) system, supplying a typical farming load demand through open wells (boreholes). The hybrid optimization model for electric renewable (HOMER) software has been used during simulation. The optimal configuration results have proved that the proposed system can meet the farming load demand at an incurred cost of ZAR2.32 per kWh.