Off-grid, renewable energy specialist Kathryn Adams, Director of Product, Prolectric, takes a deep dive into the future trends of solar street lighting…
With British summer time officially here, sunshine is top of everyone’s agenda, especially when you’re in the business of turning our planet’s most abundant natural source of power into clean, reliable, renewable energy. We are on a mission to sustainably light up our UK streets. Outlining the benefits and potential pitfalls on all you need to know when procuring and purchasing fit-for-purpose street lighting solutions, Prolectric has recently produced a comprehensive whitepaper which provides guidance on the future trends in UK solar street lighting.
The market has recently been flooded by poor-quality, cheaper solar street lights, that do not perform in British winters, as a result we felt compelled, as the UK’s original solar street manufacturer, to take a stand and increase the awareness of what makes a good solar street light work all year round.
Our recent deep dive clearly shows the market is strongly trending towards sustainable and smart solutions, driven by advances in solar technology, and energy efficient LEDs, with the goal of reducing emissions in alignment with the UK’s net-zero ambitions. However, within this shift, there are numerous issues that buyers should be aware of.
First and foremost, compliance with British standards is an important factor when choosing solar street lights. Purchasers should be confident in the quality of all aspects of the street light, top down and including the column, to avoid potential liability.
Panel size is the key to ensuring that the light operates all night in the winter, not battery size. We always ensure a 5:1 ratio on panel yield compared to light output. Finally, the prevalence of ‘All-in-one’ lights is growing in the UK, which is concerning as solar lights require a south facing panel. All-in-one lights compromise on this to ensure the light points in the desired direction, but during winter, with an insufficient amount of solar yield the light will not work. This is why Prolectric only offers split lights where the panel and light are separate.
Inflated Claims and Greenwashing
The UK is a complex country when it comes to solar street lighting. Areas in the South of England can receive 30% more sunlight than northern Scotland and whatever the latitude British winter nights can be notoriously dark and gloomy with up to 16.5 hours of darkness. This means that solar street lighting needs to be designed and tested in the UK to be sure that performance will live up to the manufacturer’s claims. Some solar street lights may claim excellent performance, but suppliers sometimes base their solar power yield assumptions on a perfect day in a sunny foreign country. This is misleading and purchasers should be aware of inflated claims.
Increased Solar Integration
Solar street lighting is gaining popularity for both residential and commercial projects due to its long-term cost-savings and environmental benefits. Off-grid solar lights which don’t require extensive cabling are especially attractive for new residential and commercial developments, reducing both installation and operational costs. Companies like Prolectric have established reliable, fully solar-powered street lights, suitable for UK weather conditions and appealing to sectors that seek low-maintenance, carbon-neutral solutions, such as housing estates, business parks and public spaces.
Smart Technology for Energy Efficiency
With the rise of smart cities, smart street lighting systems are becoming essential. These systems allow remote management and real time monitoring, enabling customised lighting schedules, dimming and precise energy tracking. Enzen’s ZenLumen system for example, uses smart technology to adjust lighting based on need and time, helping commercial and industrial estates cut energy usage by up to 46% by controlling lighting individually or in zones. This not only improves energy efficiency but also contributes to better safety and lower light pollution.
LED Advancements and Durability
The shift to LEDs continues, given their lower energy consumption and longer lifespan. LED based solar street lights are now more robust and energy efficient which makes them suitable for the UK’s fluctuating weather. Solar lights with integrated LED technology are now commonly used in areas like parking, pathways and open spaces, particularly in business and on commercial estates where sustainability goals are important, whilst maintaining consistent lighting.
Enhanced Appeal for Property Developers
For property developers and commercial estates managers, adopting solar lighting aligns with both regulatory pressures and public demand for sustainable development. Annual expenditure on electricity could reach £379m by 2030 for the UK’s mains-powered street lights. Solar-powered street lighting enhances the appeal of residential and business areas by reducing energy costs and meeting eco-friendly expectations, a significant draw in today’s cost-driven market.
The move towards greener infrastructure is expected to continue as solar and LED technologies advance, making them more viable for large scale adoption. These trends underline the growing emphasis on smart, sustainable lighting infrastructure as part of a broader commitment to eco-friendly development in the UK’s residential and commercial sectors.
Impact on Local Communities and Dark Sky Accreditation
At Persimmon Homes’ new Sycamore rise development in Oxfordshire, 40 Prolectric AE3 solar street lights, with a steel column, have been installed across approximately 175 plots on the developer’s new private housing estate. As a result, the residents now benefit from zero-maintenance and zero-carbon emitting solar lighting, which has eliminated the need for mains power.
Solar street lights have significant benefits for local residents compared to traditional mains-connected lighting. There is less noise during installation and less light pollution as the default brightness before being activated can be set to dim or even off, depending on the requirements of the project. Prolectric is Dark Sky Approved, an objective, third-party certification for products, designs and completed projects that minimise glare, reduce light trespass and don’t pollute the night sky. This is important for both people and wildlife, with bat conservation a particularly important topic in the UK. Prolectric street lights are designed to focus the light on the specific areas that need illumination, minimising the effect on wildlife and the night sky. When it comes to the environment, solar street lighting has many advantages over mains connected lighting, both in terms of reducing ongoing carbon emissions and lowering embedded carbon.
British Design Solutions for UK Weather
When it comes to Solar lighting, both temporary and permanent solutions, our lights are designed and manufactured in our facility near Bristol, with UK weather specifically in mind.
Prolectric has been championing quieter, safer and more environmentally friendly sites for over a decade, as the first to introduce solar street lighting to the UK in 2011.
To date, Prolectric has provided more lights than any other UK installer, with over 15,000 solar street lights nationwide. Our game-changing solar technology provides a practical way for businesses to achieve their carbon-reduction commitments, enabling a simple move away from polluting fossil-fuelled or mains powered systems.
For further information visit: Permanent Lighting Solutions or book a free trial here.
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