Contrary to popular belief, street lighting has a more extended history than it is currently recognized. The necessity for night time lighting has been a constant issue for people since they began to live in communities. Street lights are modified over time and nowadays people have started using modern Solar Street Lights. The benefits of solar street lights are not only for the environment but it has several other benefits. Here, in this blog, we will discuss some benefits of Solar Street Lights.
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Sunlight that has been transformed into thermal or electrical energy is solar light. It is a type of unrenewable and eco-friendly new energy source. One application of solar power is a solar street light which has several benefits. Some benefits of solar streetlights include stability, a long service life, ease of installation, safety, excellent performance, and energy conservation. This type of lighting can be found extensively installed in parking lots, factories, living areas, and urban roads.
Solar streetlights use the sun’s energy to power outdoor streetlights. These solar lights use the strength of the sun through solar panels and transform them into electrical energy.
The LED light source, solar panels, storage battery, solar charge controller, lamp-post, and additional wire rods make up the solar street light. The solar module is typically made of polycrystalline or monocrystalline silicon. The storage battery is kept underground or inside a customized battery incubator.
Solar panels use a solar charge controller to collect the sun’s energy during the day and turn it into power. The storage battery will be charged by solar panels. The storage battery powers the LED light source at night. A DC controller makes sure that overcharging or over-discharging won’t harm the storage battery.
The discovery of fire and the creation of the first lamps altered everything. Since then people started using lamps for their daily household but nobody thought about street lighting till the 4th century B.C. This led to the invention of street lights in the 4th century B.C. Several old documents demonstrate the use of the earliest street lights in the ancient Greek city of Antioch. Soon, modern public street lighting was developed in the s using candles and oil.
However, German inventor Frederick Albert Winsor created the first widely utilized street lighting system in London in using piped coal gas. Electrical street lights like the arch lamp and the incandescent bulb later took place.
Since then, public street lights have played a significant role in urban development, transportation, and large public spaces, providing bright light for walking, security in outdoor settings, and significant advantages for pedestrians, drivers, animals, and locals in the communities where they are installed.
Solar energy can be used in multiple ways. Many people have already installed solar panels at home and know the benefits of Solar panels. One other use of solar energy is in Solar lights. Solar-powered lighting is growing in popularity, not just for homes and businesses but also for entire towns. Local roads and pathways in residential neighbourhoods can be illuminated with solar lamps, which are a dependable and sustainable source of light supplying both vehicles and pedestrians with lighting that meets high requirements.
Traditional electric street lights from the 19th century are starting to be replaced by LED solar grid-free street lights, which are quickly taking over as the new norm in street lighting. Let’s look at some of the great benefits of Solar Street Lights.
Instead of burning fossil fuels, solar streetlights employ renewable energy, which lowers their carbon footprint and energy usage. Due to the lack of trenching for cables and external power sources, they minimize environmental impact during installation and maintenance.
Traditional street lights that are connected to the grid use a lot of money and are the biggest source of carbon emissions. They make up 30–100% of the total emissions of a local government. Solar-powered street lights are better for the environment because the solar panels only need power from the sun and don’t release any carbon when they work.
Solar street lights utilize less energy, create better, more direct light, and last roughly seven times as long as conventional incandescent or high-pressure sodium (HPS) lights.
Due to the absence of external electrical requirements, monthly energy bills and maintenance expenses are reduced to a minimum. It leads to significant savings over the course of the light’s lifespan and in most circumstances, it brings the light’s initial cost down to zero.
The normal rated lifespan of conventional street lights, such as incandescent, fluorescent, mercury vapour, metal halide, and high-pressure sodium, ranges from 2,000 to 29,000 hours. Whereas solar-powered LEDs have a typical rated lifespan of 15,000 to 50,000 hours. This makes the solar-powered lights a better option than conventional lights.
The majority of contemporary solar streetlights come with built-in solar panels, batteries, motion sensors, and control modules, which make the installation simpler and faster. It does not require any power lines or infrastructure. Whereas traditional street lights require experts to install them. Solar street lighting is straightforward to install. It can be installed without any wiring or electrical work. The device only needs to be fastened to a pole or flat surface.
Good quality solar lights are made with mono-crystalline panels, which are more effective than poly-crystalline (rated at 15% efficiency). It also provides 20% of the maximum power. It also has some of the greatest equipment on the market, along with deep-cycle lead acid batteries that are expected to last 5-7 years.
Business solar lights only need periodic cleaning to remove obstructions from the panels and battery replacements. It requires less maintenance than regular lights. Every 5 years, traditional lighting fixtures (usually made of high-pressure sodium) need to be replaced. Solar lights are made up of high technologies that are designed to survive for a very long time with very minor maintenance for each functional component.
According to the International Energy Agency, if we keep going in this direction, solar energy will account for 16% of the world’s electricity by . You can also join this list by switching to solar electricity, which will increase safety, decrease pollution, and result in financial savings.
Switch to solar street lights for enhanced safety, savings, and sustainability. These lights offer a host of benefits, from illuminating dark areas to reducing your electricity bills. With a solar installation, you could even garner media attention for your eco-friendly lighting initiative in your community.
To learn more about the advantages and options of solar street lights, get in touch with Mentor Group at for a consultation.
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As a renewable energy source, solar energy plays an important role in reducing greenhouse gas emissions and mitigating climate change, which is critical to protecting people, wildlife and ecosystems. Solar energy can also improve air quality and reduce water use in energy production. When solar energy is applied to LED street lights, the combination of the two makes solar powered street lights perform well in environmental protection and energy saving. This article mainly introduces some knowledge of solar energy and solar street lights, including some concepts and their advantages and disadvantages.
Solar power is the process of converting renewable energy from sunlight to electricity, either directly using solar panels (photovoltaic cells) or indirectly using concentrated solar energy. More commonly, the solar panel uses the photovoltaic effect to convert light into electric current, which can be used directly or stored in a battery for later use.
For your quick understanding, we make it in the below tables. Generally speaking, the advantages outweigh the disadvantages, and I believe that many of the disadvantages will be solved gradually after the progress of technology.
There are several disadvantages of solar panels, including:
1. High upfront costs: The initial cost of installing a solar panel system can be quite expensive. It may take several years to recoup the investment of the initial setup, making it a long-term commitment.
2. Weather dependency: Solar panels rely on sunlight to generate energy. This can be a major disadvantage in areas with frequent cloud cover, rain, or low sunlight throughout the year.
3. Limited energy storage: Solar panel systems require energy storage systems or backup batteries to store excess energy for use during periods of low sunlight or high demand. This can add to the cost of the system and limit the amount of energy that can be generated.
4. Space requirements: Solar panels require a large amount of space to install. Large solar panels may not be feasible for households with limited roof or yard space.
5. Maintenance and repair: Solar panels may require regular maintenance and repair to ensure optimal operation. This can be time-consuming and costly.
6. Environmental impact: While solar panels are a cleaner source of energy compared to non-renewable resources, the production and disposal of solar panels can also have environmental impacts.
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advantage and disadvantages of solar energy Advantages of Solar Energy Disadvantages of Solar Energy Renewable Energy Source Cost Reduces Electricity Bills Weather Dependent Diverse Applications Solar Energy Storage is Expensive Low Maintenance Costs Uses a Lot of Space Technology Development Associated with PollutionBecause there are many advantages of solar power, we, as a manufacturer of LED lights, hope that solar energy can be applied to the use of LED lights. Solar powered street light is one of the more successful cases, mainly due to the progress of LED technology in this century.
Solar LED street lights use LEDs as their light source, and solar panels charge rechargeable batteries during the day and power the LED lights at night. The solar panel mounted on the lighting structure is an integrated solar LED street light (It is also called an all-in-one solar street light), while the solar panel mounted on the light pole is split solar LED street light.
We think there are two reasons, the benefits of solar power and the efficiency of LED Lighting. Solar outdoor street lights are a good option whether you want to cut your carbon impact or your energy costs. However, which outdoor solar lights are ideal for your home or business? The answer to this question can be influenced by numerous things. However, we think it’s helpful to first comprehend the benefits and drawbacks of solar street lights in order to make an informed purchase decision. With this information at your disposal, you’ll be much more capable of identifying the best option for you.
The conversion efficiency of solar panels increased these years. Although it’s about 20%. However, for free and clean energy, it doesn’t have much influence on its application in LED light.
We can not do much to reduce energy consumption from traditional light sources. There are two main benefits of LED lighting when it comes to improving efficiency and reducing costs. Firstly, LEDs use far less energy than any previous form of lighting, helping to significantly reduce energy consumption. Secondly, the efficiency of LED lighting requires that the frequency of replacement is greatly reduced, saving maintenance costs.
High-efficiency LED lighting technology makes the benefits of solar energy applications recognized. LED lighting requires less energy than any lighting source used before, so it doesn’t require a lot of solar energy. From the parking lot, pedestrian, and road, these places generally only need to provide lighting at night, so that the solar LED street lights can obtain solar energy during the day, and then convert it into electricity to supply power for the light source at night. The two perfectly combine the sustainable benefits of solar energy and the energy efficiency of LED lighting.
Solar street lights feature little glare, are waterproof, resistant to water, and have a low insect attrition rate. These lights have solar panels that convert solar energy into electrical energy, which is used for dusk-to-dawn illumination operations and stored in the built-in battery. The installation of solar LED street lights is simple and convenient because no extra wiring is needed. It only requires a concrete base and a battery box (A split solar street light can be selected according to need, and an all-in-one solar street light is built in.). Installation does not require extensive labor, materials, and other costs.
Solar street lights convert sunlight into electricity without power consumption. No pollution and no radiation are in line with the current environmental protection concept. With LED sources, it can be said to be the icing on the cake.
Traditional LED street lights may have potential safety hazards due to construction quality, material aging, power supply confusion, and other reasons. While solar LED street lights do not use alternating current, there is no potential safety hazard, which brings convenience to electricians to maintain lamps.
Most solar panels on the market are stable for at least ten years due to mature manufacturing technology. They can generate electricity for thirty years or more.
The solar street light is regulated by a solar charge controller, which can adjust the light intensity according to the natural brightness and people’s needs. In remote areas, the daily maintenance costs of traditional street lights are very high. The solar street lights only need regular inspections, and the maintenance cost is relatively low.
Solar LED street lights do not need to pay electricity bills, and in this era of high energy prices, the payback time is greatly shortened.
Due to the shortage of traditional energy, the application of solar energy will be more extensive. Solar street lights have been applied on many occasions. However, there are also some restrictive factors in the application and promotion of solar street lights.
One of the factors is the initial cost. The initial investment in solar street lights is large. According to the survey, the total cost of installing a solar street light is often three or four times or even more than that of a traditional LED street light.
Batteries have always been a bottleneck for solar applications. Generally speaking, ordinary batteries cannot be fully charged for a long time, and their charging efficiency may drop to 50%, which will definitely affect the lighting conditions at night on continuous rainy days. Therefore, choosing a high-quality battery is crucial when installing solar street lights.
Because they are not grid powered and it has a higher monetary value than regular street lights, the risk of theft is relatively high. This is why the battery often needs to be buried or placed high on the pole.
The conversion efficiency of solar panels is almost 15%~17%. In theory, the conversion efficiency of silicon solar panels can reach about 30%. So we think there is still space for improvement.
Snow or dust, and moisture can accumulate on horizontal PV panels. This has an impact on the conversion of solar energy. The solar panel needs to be cleaned regularly in some places like Saudi Arabia.
Since solar energy comes from the sun, geography and weather conditions directly affect the lighting conditions of solar street lights. Continuous cloudy and rainy days will affect the lighting, so the illumination or brightness of the lights does not meet the national standards. To make matters worse, solar street lights cannot be lit sometimes, especially in winter.
Currently, many suppliers are configuring lead-acid batteries for buyers to reduce costs. They are mainly composed of lead, sulfuric acid, and some other metals and plastics. Waste battery acid contains a large amount of lead, and the random discharge will not only seriously pollute the soil and water flow. In addition, the recycling and processing of waste batteries in China are still in a relatively disordered state, so many waste lead-acid batteries are polluting our living space, even if gel batteries are used, pollution still exists.
LiFePO₄ batteries are better than traditional lead-acid batteries for long-term, remote uses like solar streetlights because they last longer (more than cycles), are safer, need less maintenance, and are better for the environment. You can make a long-lasting closed loop by using green recycling systems and EPR rules.
Benefits include a mature recycling system with a recycling rate of up to 98–99% and a low purchase cost of roughly $100–200/kWh.
Drawbacks include a short cycle life (500– cycles, shorter life following deep discharge); frequent maintenance (cleaning, water replenishment); and the presence of hazardous materials like sulfuric acid and lead, which, if improperly handled, will pollute the environment.
Benefits include a high energy density, a medium cycle life (– times), an efficiency of roughly 90%, and no maintenance needs.
Cons: has limited resources like nickel and cobalt, mining is fraught with environmental and human rights issues, there is no dedicated recycling system, recycling efficiency and process are not yet perfect, it is expensive, and there is clear cycle and calendar decay.
Benefits: Ultra-long life: – cycles, with some optimized processes supporting over 10,000 cycles. Life can extend to over ten years. High safety features include chemical stability, minimal chance of thermal runaway, and the absence of delicate materials like nickel and cobalt. Excellent high and low temperature resistance, a high discharge rate that supports emergency situations, and an efficiency of 90–95% mean that there is no need for water addition or balancing maintenance.
Drawbacks include a high initial cost ($300–+/kWh) and the need for a battery management system (BMS) to guarantee safety; they are also somewhat larger and have a slightly lower energy density than cobalt batteries.
In the design of solar street lights, the system power supply capacity is usually evaluated based on the annual average peak sunshine hours (Peak Sun Hours). For example, the annual average peak sunshine in a certain place is 5 hours/day, which means that the solar panels can effectively generate electricity for 5 hours every day. Generally speaking, the higher the value, the lower the panel capacity requirement, and the lower the value, the higher the panel capacity requirement.
If the battery designed for the solar street light system has 4 days of automatic operation (autonomy days), it can ensure stable power supply during 3 consecutive days of rainy days, which can avoid the risk of frequent light outages or deep discharge due to weather changes. In the rainy season with insufficient light, the system can still complete the lighting task with the remaining power, improving overall reliability and user experience. If the target area has few consecutive rainy days, it will be more economical to configure a battery system with 2-3 days of automatic operation, which can reduce costs and improve efficiency.
A reputable supplier or manufacturer of solar street lights will offer a minimum three-year warranty.
Our solar powered street lights do not rely on the utility grid, allowing them to be installed on rural roads and streets without running power to the poles. Currently, within the civilian sector, there is an abundance of so-called W/W street lighting systems; however, the reality is that these products often feature power outputs of merely 10W or 20W, coupled with subpar materials and the usage of recycled batteries. This inevitably leads to short lifespans and, in some cases, even instances of spontaneous combustion, posing significant hazards and causing substantial inconvenience to users.
All parameter can be customized, supporting customer to adjust setting based on their specific requirements. For more details you would like to know, please to me [ protected].
So switching to solar LED street lighting is undoubtedly an investment, but moving towards a sustainable and efficient energy future does not come without a price tag. When it comes to curbing our consumption in an efficient and sustainable way, solar and LEDs are definitely an option worth considering.
For Street Lighting Design Guide, you can read our related article “Key Factors to Consider in the Street Lighting Design“.
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