Solar panels play a key role in powering street lights, capturing sunlight and converting it into electricity to ensure the stable operation of street lights. Choosing the right solar panels directly affects the performance, efficiency, and durability of solar street lights. This article aims to explore the different types of solar panels used for street lights, the factors to consider when selecting them, and the benefits they offer.
solar led street lights
Solar panels serve as the energy core of street light systems, with their primary function being to efficiently capture sunlight and convert it into usable electrical energy, providing continuous power for nighttime illumination. When selecting solar panels for street lights, key factors such as energy efficiency, durability, and size must be carefully considered. High efficiency means producing more electricity under the same sunlight conditions, durability ensures resistance to outdoor challenges such as wind, rain, and extreme temperatures, and appropriate size ensures compatibility with the installation space on the light pole. Selecting high-quality panels is a critical prerequisite for ensuring that street lights remain reliable and efficient over many years of use.
Crystalline solar panels primarily come in two forms: polycrystalline silicon and monocrystalline silicon solar panels. Monocrystalline silicon solar panels are made from high-purity monocrystalline silicon. During production, the monocrystalline silicon raw material is first drawn into cylindrical silicon ingots, then precisely cut into thin slices just a few micrometers thick. These slices are processed through doping and etching to create individual cells with photovoltaic conversion functionality, which are then connected in an orderly manner via metal wires and encapsulated into complete panels. Their crystal structure is uniform, and they offer superior conductivity.
Polycrystalline silicon solar panels are made from polycrystalline silicon material. During production, the silicon material is melted and directly poured into square molds, which cool to form polycrystalline silicon ingots. These are then cut into square or rectangular thin sheets, eliminating the complex pulling process required for monocrystalline silicon. While the random crystal arrangement may slightly impact performance, the lower cost makes them suitable for applications where efficiency is not an absolute priority.
| Type | Appearance Color | Conversion Efficiency | Cost Level | Market Application
(Street Lighting) |
| Monocrystalline Solar Panel | Black | 15% – 22% | High | Mainstream choice, suitable for all types of street lights |
| Polycrystalline Solar Panel | Blue | 12% – 16% | Low | Being phased out, used only in a few low-end products |
With advancements in technology, the cost of monocrystalline silicon solar panels has significantly decreased. Today, monocrystalline silicon solar panels hold a significant share of the solar street light panel market and can be found in various types of solar street lights, from split-type to two-in-one and integrated models.
PERC solar panels are an improved version of crystalline panels, capable of generating 10%-30% more energy. They feature a passivation layer on both the front and back of the cell, reducing surface recombination of electrons and holes, thereby enhancing panel efficiency. This technology also includes a back-contact design, enabling more light to be absorbed and converted into electricity.
In recent years, the popularity of PERC solar panels has surged. Their application in solar street lights enhances energy conversion efficiency, enabling power supply to higher-power lighting modules. This means that the same power output can be achieved using smaller, more compact panels, while also enhancing the aesthetic value of the street lights.
street lights
Bifacial solar panels are based on crystalline silicon solar technology. In bifacial panels, the light-absorbing layer is sandwiched between two layers of tempered glass or transparent plastic material. This design increases energy output and improves performance under specific conditions. Studies show that under conditions of abundant scattered sunlight and reflective surfaces, bifacial solar panels achieve an average efficiency approximately 20-30% higher than traditional panels.
Since bifacial panels can convert energy from both sides, they are highly suitable for solar street lights to enhance energy output. They can be either mounted at the top of the light pole or on the light housing, or installed vertically on the light pole.
However, this application imposes strict requirements on material quality and encapsulation technology; otherwise, the panels are more prone to damage, especially under harsh weather conditions.
Thin-film solar panels were invented as early as the 1970s but have only recently become a new hot topic in the solar street light industry. These panels are lightweight, flexible, and can be bent, offering numerous design possibilities for street light panel modules. Vertical solar street lights typically use these panels, which can be installed in various ways. First, they can be embedded into the four sides of a square lamp post. Second, they can be processed into narrow strips, assembled into polygonal tubular structures, or rolled into cylindrical structures, then wrapped around the lamp post. Through these methods, thin-film panel technology gives solar street lights a fashionable, modern appearance that aligns with contemporary aesthetics.
Another advantage of thin-film solar panels is that they maintain good efficiency even under low-light conditions such as cloudy or overcast weather. Finally, they have an impressive temperature coefficient, meaning they are less sensitive to temperature changes and do not experience significant efficiency drops in hot weather.
Technically, other solar panel technologies, such as IBC and HJT panels, can also be used for street lights. However, in addition to efficiency, cost is a key deciding factor, especially considering the additional expenses required to modify standard models into those ideally suited for street lights without large-scale production, as well as the uncertain maintenance costs these newer solar panel technologies may incur over the long term. As mentioned earlier, IBC and HJT solar panels are more expensive than PERC solar panels, making their application in the street light industry currently rare.
solar street lights
High energy conversion efficiency is crucial in street lighting applications because it directly affects power generation. For outdoor fixed installations like street lights, lighting conditions are significantly affected by seasonal and weather changes. High-efficiency panels can maximize power output within limited daylight hours. Panels with higher conversion efficiency generate more electricity under the same sunlight exposure, especially in low-light environments such as short winter days or cloudy/rainy weather. This reduces reliance on battery capacity, leading to better overall system performance and energy savings, and lowering the risk of lighting interruptions due to insufficient power supply.
Street lights are exposed to various weather conditions, including rain, snow, strong winds, ultraviolet radiation, and extreme temperature fluctuations. Outdoor environments are highly corrosive; rainwater may seep into components causing short circuits, high temperatures may accelerate material aging, and low temperatures may cause component brittleness. Therefore, selecting solar panels that can withstand these environmental factors is crucial. Look for panels made with high-quality materials (such as tempered glass and durable frames) and features like waterproof coatings. Superior encapsulation processes can keep out moisture and dust, ensuring the panels maintain stable performance over their 15-25 year lifespan for long-term reliability.
The size and power output of solar panels should align with the specific requirements of the street light system. Different road sections have varying brightness needs—major roads require high-power lighting, while alleys can use lower power; in high-latitude regions with weak sunlight, larger-power panels are needed to compensate. Factors such as required brightness levels, operating time, and geographical location must be considered to determine the appropriate panel size and power capacity. Oversized panels may be unnecessary, increasing material costs and installation complexity while incurring additional expenses; undersized panels may fail to generate sufficient power to meet lighting needs, particularly during prolonged periods of cloudy or rainy weather.
solar street lights
Solar street lights significantly contribute to environmental sustainability by reducing carbon emissions and dependence on fossil fuels. Traditional street lights rely on grid power, which is primarily generated by fossil fuels such as coal and natural gas, releasing large amounts of carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gases during the power generation process. Solar street lights, however, operate entirely on clean, renewable solar energy, producing virtually no pollutants during energy conversion and use. This energy transition not only effectively reduces a city’s carbon footprint but also helps mitigate global warming trends, laying a solid foundation for building a green, low-carbon ecological environment and driving society toward a more sustainable future.
Solar street lights offer significant long-term cost savings. In terms of energy consumption, they do not require connection to the traditional grid, completely eliminating monthly electricity bills. As usage time increases, the accumulated savings on energy costs continue to grow. In terms of maintenance costs, the core components of solar street lights have a long lifespan and low failure rate. Compared to the frequent line inspections, bulb replacements, and other maintenance tasks required for traditional street lights, they significantly reduce the need for labor and materials. More importantly, installing solar street lights does not require the large-scale laying of underground cables or the construction of substations and other power infrastructure, thereby eliminating the high costs of engineering construction. From initial investment to long-term operation, they can save cities a significant amount of money on their lighting systems.
Solar street lights can effectively improve community safety. In remote areas or regions without grid coverage, installing solar street lights can fill lighting gaps, reduce dark corners, and lower the risk of crime. At night, adequate lighting allows pedestrians and vehicles to see road conditions more clearly, reducing the occurrence of traffic accidents. At the same time, a well-lit environment also gives residents a greater sense of security, promoting the harmonious and stable development of the community.
Solar panels used in solar street lights come in various types, each with its own characteristics and suitability. Monocrystalline silicon, PERC, bifacial, and thin-film panels each have their own advantages and disadvantages in terms of efficiency, cost, and installation methods. When selecting panels, key considerations include energy efficiency, durability, and size. Furthermore, using solar panels in street lights not only supports environmental sustainability but also yields significant cost savings. Therefore, the application of solar panels in street lights should be actively promoted to achieve a more environmentally friendly and economical lighting system.
