THE Commonwealth Business Council (CBC) and SOL, Inc; an American outdoor solar lighting engineering company have introduced the technology onto the local market.
The partnership seeks to close the local power supply deficit and cut the huge monthly electricity bills on street lighting.
Aziz Baguma, the SOL East Africa partner, said under the partnership, CBC would finance up to 85% of the total solar street lighting project, while clients pay the 15% through a loan payable over seven to 10 years.
Kampala City Council Authority (KCCA) would for example be required to pay only 15% of the $10m (about sh26b) required to replace its high pressure sodium lights with solar technology in the Central Business District, covering 120 kilometres.
The authority reportedly spends over sh1.4b on street lighting annually. This implies that KCCA would save up to 75% of its total expenditure, but earn more revenue of up to over sh6b from improved street light advertising technology annually.
The technology has a 22-year lifespan.
It has been in use in various African countries including the US, Iraq, Kuwait and Saudi Arabia.
"The world is fast-changing to renewable energy sources as an ultimate remedy against the costly hydropower.
"Solar energy relieves people and authorities of the burden of periodical expenditures on power," Baguma said in an interview.
He argued that it made economic sense to embrace solar technology for lighting and low voltage electric appliance needs.
"This would enable more of the hydropower to be diverted into other heavy production areas. This will close the power deficit gap as far as running industries is concerned."
SOL solar lighting systems are also used for roadways, perimeters and security.
It is also used in temporary sites, parking lots, bus shelters, parks and recreation facilities, billboards and signs, remote operations, paths, trails and academic campuses.
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