A validated model of a photovoltaic water pumping system for off-grid rural communities

•The energy conversion chain in a photovoltaic water pumping system was modelled.•Water collection by the inhabitants was included as a model input.•The model was validated by using data acquired on a system in rural Africa.•The accuracy of the model is higher than 95% when using local climatic data.•Accuracy drops of 1–3% when replacing local climatic data by satellite ones.