Under the wave of global energy transition and sustainable development, the way cities and villages are illuminated is undergoing a major change. As a typical representative of renewable energy applications, solar street lights are becoming a key force in illuminating the future with their unique advantages.
solar led street light
Solar street lights are solar-powered outdoor lighting devices. Its working principle is to collect sunlight through solar photovoltaic panels, and use the photovoltaic effect to convert solar energy into electricity. During the day, the photovoltaic panel absorbs solar energy and converts it into electricity, part of which is directly supplied to the lighting fixtures, while the remaining electricity is stored in the battery for use at night or when there is insufficient light.
Modern solar street lights are carefully designed to be highly automated and stable, and can work continuously and stably with less human intervention. The built-in battery system ensures stable power supply, which is not only cost-effective but also non-polluting to the environment. It can illuminate streets and public areas without relying on traditional power grids, and is suitable for both commercial and residential scenarios, with both aesthetics and durability.
The input energy of solar PV systems is unstable, so it is often necessary to install batteries to assist the street lights. The main function of the battery is to store and release power, storing the power converted by the PV module during the day and discharging it at night under the instruction of the controller. Currently commonly used solar street light batteries include lead-acid batteries, colloidal batteries and lithium batteries. Among them, lithium battery has become the first choice of most solar street light manufacturers by virtue of its advantages of long life and no pollution. The advantages of various types of batteries are compared as follows:
| Battery Type | Charge/Discharge Cycles | Self-Discharge Rate | Lifespan | Deep Discharge Capability | Charging Efficiency |
| Lead-Acid Battery | Low | High | Short | Average | Average |
| Gel Battery | Medium | Medium | Medium | Good | Good |
| Lithium Battery | High | Low | Long | Strong | High |
Currently, the commonly used light sources for solar street lights are low-voltage energy-saving lamps, low-voltage sodium lamps, induction lamps and LED light sources. Among them, LED light source has become an ideal choice for solar street lights due to its long lifespan (up to 50,000 hours), low operating voltage and high luminous efficiency. With the advancement of technology, the performance of LED light source will be further improved. Comparison of the characteristics of different light sources is as follows:
| Light Source Type | Luminous Efficiency (Lm/w) | Lifespan (Hours) | Operating Voltage | Suitability for Solar Street Lights |
| Low-Voltage Energy-Saving Lamp | High | 2,000 | Low | Average |
| Low-Pressure Sodium Lamp | Up to 200 | Long | – | Average |
| Induction Lamp | High | – | Not Suitable | No |
| LED Light Source | Continuously Improving | 50,000 | Low | Excellent |
Common solar panels are divided into monocrystalline and polycrystalline silicon types, which are used to convert solar energy into electricity and store it in a battery. Monocrystalline PV panels have a conversion efficiency of up to 17%, while polycrystalline PV panels have a conversion efficiency of about 12%. It is important to note that PV panels need to be oriented to the sunlight, and if they are blocked by trees or covered with leaves or dust, the power generation will be affected.
Controller is an indispensable core component of the solar street light system, which connects the lamps, batteries and solar PV panels in series to ensure the normal operation of the system. Its main functions include: limiting the battery input voltage; boosting the voltage when there is no voltage output; controlling the switching time of the street light; and regulating the output power. When choosing a controller, it is necessary to consider the power of the PV panel, the system voltage, and the type and power of the lamps.
solar street light
Split solar street light consists of two separate parts: the solar PV panel and the luminaire. The panel can be mounted on top of a pole, on the roof of a building, or in other sunny locations, and the power is transmitted to the luminaire via wires. This unique design gives great freedom of installation, allowing users to precisely adjust the orientation and angle of the PV panels according to the actual light conditions, maximizing the efficiency of light energy conversion. In areas with dense trees and buildings, or in specific places such as squares and parking lots with special lighting needs, the split solar street light can ensure stable power supply through reasonable layout of PV panels, providing efficient and sufficient lighting for specific areas.
All-in-one solar street light highly integrates the core electronic components such as PV panels, batteries, LED lamps and controllers into one compact unit. During the installation process, there is no need for complex wiring connections and component assembly, and the installation can be completed by simply fixing the whole device in a suitable position, significantly reducing construction time and labor costs. Its simple structural design not only reduces the difficulty of installation, but also makes the later maintenance easier, the staff can quickly overhaul and replace the overall equipment. Whether it’s road lighting for a new community, or a small park or courtyard lighting project, the all-in-one solar street light can become the ideal choice for places pursuing efficient installation and low maintenance needs due to its convenience.
All-in-two solar street light skillfully combines the advantageous features of split-type and integrated solar street light, separating the photovoltaic panels and LED lamps, and at the same time realizing the close connection through cables. Compared with the split type, the cable connection design reduces the cumbersome wiring work and makes the overall structure more concise; compared with the integrated type, it also retains the flexibility of independent installation of PV panels, which can be adjusted according to the actual environment to obtain better lighting conditions. This balanced design allows it to perform well in scenarios such as urban secondary roads and township streets, where it can meet diverse installation needs and has a high degree of spatial adaptability, guaranteeing efficient power generation while taking into account the convenience of installation and maintenance.
With excellent energy efficiency, solar street lights have become a model of energy saving in the field of modern lighting. Standard LED lamps, for example, consume up to 80% less energy than traditional high-pressure sodium lamps. This significant advantage means that cities and businesses that utilize solar street lights can significantly reduce their electricity bills in the long run. A 10-kilometer-long street, for example, could save a significant amount of money on its annual electricity bill if it were fully retrofitted with solar street lights. In areas where power supply is tight, solar street lights do not need to rely on unstable power grids, and with their independent power supply system running stably, they not only become a reliable lighting option, but also effectively relieve the pressure on regional power supply, deploying limited grid power resources to more urgent areas and realizing the efficient use of energy.
Traditional street lights rely on fossil fuels to generate electricity, releasing large amounts of carbon dioxide, sulfur dioxide and other greenhouse gases during operation, exacerbating global warming. In stark contrast, solar street lights use clean solar energy as their energy source, realizing zero emissions during operation. It is estimated that for every 100 solar street lights installed, several tons of carbon dioxide emissions can be reduced annually. Against the backdrop of the global push for carbon neutrality, solar street lights are undoubtedly the ideal choice for green lighting in cities. Its wide application not only helps to reduce the total amount of urban carbon emissions, but also contributes to the improvement of the ecological environment and helps to build a sustainable green urban lighting system.
Solar street lights are designed to fully consider the complex outdoor environment, with durable characteristics, and can easily cope with heavy rain, heavy snow, extreme heat or low temperature and other inclement weather. Compared with traditional street lights, solar street lights have fewer moving parts, which greatly reduces the probability of failure due to wear and tear of parts.
At the same time, its core components, such as LED lamps, have a lifespan of up to 50,000 hours, far exceeding that of traditional lamps. This greatly reduces the maintenance needs of solar street lights, eliminating the need for frequent replacement of bulbs and overhaul of wiring. In the long run, it not only reduces the maintenance cost, but also reduces the labor investment. With its high stability and long service life, solar street light becomes a high quality investment choice with both economy and practicability, which saves a lot of resources and energy for the cities and enterprises.
solar led street light
Evaluate the location before installation to ensure that it is well lit and that there are no tall buildings or trees blocking the sunlight.
According to the specifications of the light pole, a solid foundation is poured to provide solid support for the light pole installation.
Fix the pole vertically to the foundation to ensure its stability.
Install solar panels on top of the pole and adjust the angle to maximize sunlight.
Install the controller and battery in a waterproof box at the bottom of the pole or nearby.
Properly connect the LED fixture to the controller, battery and other equipment.
Once the installation is complete, conduct a thorough test to check for lighting effectiveness, battery charge and proper voltage output.
Ensure that the installation complies with safety standards and local regulations.
solar led street light
The photovoltaic panel is the core component of solar street light to obtain energy, its surface cleanliness directly affects the power generation efficiency. The accumulation of dust, bird droppings, fallen leaves and other dirt on the surface of the PV panels will form a masking layer, which will significantly weaken the ability to absorb and convert light energy. Studies have shown that long-term uncleaned PV panels can reduce power generation efficiency by 15-20%. Therefore, regular cleaning is essential. Use soft cleaning cloths and sponges with mild neutral detergents to gently wipe the surface of the panels, and then rinse and dry them with water to prevent new shading caused by water stains, thus ensuring that the panels always maintain efficient power generation performance.
Line as a solar street light system in the transmission of electricity channel, its stability is critical to the operation of the system. Affected by wind, sun, rain and other factors, the outer skin of the line is prone to aging and damage, and the joints may be loose and oxidized, which may lead to short-circuit and disconnection failures. It is recommended to carry out a comprehensive line inspection once a quarter.
First of all, carefully check whether there is cracking and damage to the outer skin of the line, especially with the light pole, photovoltaic panels, controllers and other parts of the connection. If you find minor damage, waterproof insulating tape can be used to wrap the repair; when the damage is serious, you need to replace the entire section of the line in a timely manner. Secondly, check whether the line joints are firm, there is no blackening, oxidation phenomenon. For loose joints, to re-tighten and do a good job of waterproofing; oxidized joints, need to polish off the oxide layer, apply conductive paste and then connect to ensure that the line is connected to a solid, unimpeded transmission of electricity.
Battery is the energy storage unit of solar street light, and its performance is directly related to the range and service life of the street light. Different types of batteries, maintenance focus is different. Lithium batteries should focus on monitoring the number of charging and discharging cycles, generally its cycle life of about 1000-2000 times, when the battery capacity drops to below 80% of the initial capacity, it will need to be replaced in a timely manner, and at the same time to avoid overcharging and over-discharging, to ensure the safety of use.
Lead-acid batteries need to regularly check the electrolyte level, when the liquid level is lower than the minimum scale, to add distilled water or special supplemental liquid, to maintain the normal level; and to ensure that the installation environment is well ventilated, to prevent the charging and discharging process of hydrogen and other flammable and explosive gases accumulate. In addition, no matter what kind of battery, if the shell is found to be broken, leakage, etc., it should be immediately stopped and replaced to ensure stable operation of the system.
As the “command center” of the solar street light system, the controller controls key functions such as charging and discharging, lighting time and brightness adjustment. If the controller fails, the whole street light system will not work normally. It is recommended to test the controller once a quarter. First, observe the controller indicator status, determine whether the power supply, charging, discharging and other functions are normal. Different colors and flashing patterns of indicator lights, corresponding to different working conditions and fault prompts, need to refer to the manual for interpretation. Secondly, test the time control function, check whether the street light can be accurately turned on and off according to the preset time; at the same time, simulate different lighting conditions, test whether the brightness adjustment function is sensitive. Once found abnormal function, timely parameter adjustment or contact professional maintenance to ensure stable operation of the controller .
With its outstanding advantages in energy saving, environmental protection, safety and other aspects, solar street light has shown great potential for development. Despite the challenges of high initial investment and light conditions in the promotion process, with technological advances, policy support and public awareness of environmental protection, solar street lights will certainly play a more important role in the future construction of urban lighting and rural electrification, contributing to the realization of sustainable development goals.
