The simplest system consists of a solar panel and a DC pump. Systems may also include batteries, sun trackers, and wind co-generators. Adding an inverter makes using an AC motor and pump possible, but this raises the costs substantially. Solar water pumping systems are really not very different from modern wind turbine systems. Today, wind turbines can power electric pumps, too.
Solar systems have some benefits over wind systems, but there are also some limits.
As the well gets deeper, the number of gallons per minute pumped lessens. Pumping water from deep wells, or high volumes of water from shallow wells, means more powerful pumps. Stronger pumps need more power. Getting more solar power means adding more panels and this can get costly for high volumes or very deep wells. A possible choice for such conditions is an electric pump powered by a wind turbine.