A solar-powered pump is a normal pump with an electric motor. Electricity for the motor is generated on-site through a solar panel which converts solar energy to direct-current (DC) electricity. Because the nature of the electrical output from a solar panel is DC, a solar-powered pump requires a DC motor if it is to operate without additional electrical components. If a pump has an alternating-current (AC) motor, an inverter would be required to convert the DC electricity produced by the solar panels to AC electricity. Due to the increased complexity and cost, and the reduced efficiency of an AC system, most solar-powered pumps have DC motors.