The availability of solar panels and LEDs (light emitting diodes) have enabled the illumination of roads and streets in areas where it is difficult or costly to access power. This is not only for remote areas because even in densely populated city areas, it can be expensive or very difficult to access power at a reasonable cost. Orion Solar has been supplying solar powered LED lights for years, especially in the marine and aviation industries. Sometimes solar power has been the solution of choice even though hard wired power is available just metres away. A good example would be the temporary use of obstruction lighting at a major airfield where to access available power would mean the closure of a runway or taxiway because of the need to trench and bury the cable underground.
In a similar manner, solar road lights and solar LED street lights can be justified even in urban areas. The reason that this has not been a common solution before is the fact that until recently solar road lights and solar powered street lights could not generate enough lumens to meet with Australian and international standards required of roadway lighting. Now, with the introduction of a new generation of white, high-efficacy LEDs (light emitting diodes), the ability to supply a solar road light or solar powered street lights which meet any lighting standard is a real possibility.
The introduction of standards compliant solar road light and solar LED street lights has not been solely as a result of the introduction of new LEDs. To take full advantage of this new technology it was necessary to develop sophisticated controls to manage the flow of energy from the sun, to the solar panel, to the battery and to the LED in a way which would maximise the efficiency of the system. Orion Solar's Canadian partner, Carmanah Technologies have been the world leader in the development of these type of controls.
What must be remembered in the case of a solar road light or solar LED street lights is that there is a limitation in the size of solar panels and batteries that can be used since they need to be mounted on the lighting pole. Larger panels are more susceptible to wind damage and aesthetics of the assembly are compromised by a larger enclosure. Some suppliers revert to having enclosures installed at the base of the pole but this exposes the units to risk of damage from vandalism and flooding. Furthermore, battery life and performance are compromised by high temperatures and we have found that the best position for maintaining a lower temperature for the batteries is at the top of the pole.
Orion Solar was recently selected as a supplier to Queensland Department of Main Roads on the basis that we are now able to offer solar LED lighting which will comply with standards up to Category V5 Roadway Lighting.
