Facilities management (FM) teams know that modern estates are under huge pressure to deliver more – more efficiency, more resilience and more measurable sustainability – all while controlling budgets. The recent announcement that the Defence Infrastructure Organisation (DIO) has awarded GRAHAM Group a £142.1 million contract to upgrade three Edinburgh military sites underlines just how much is being invested in estate modernisation across the UK.
But here’s the good news: many FM companies are already discovering that one simple swap is transforming their operational performance and slashing lifetime costs across defence, public-sector, commercial, logistics and education estates.
That swap is off-grid solar street lighting and power systems.
Why this matters for FM companies
1. Cost and lifecycle savings that start immediately
FM teams are under relentless pressure to reduce operational spend without compromising performance or safety. Solar street lighting eliminates the biggest expenses associated with traditional lighting systems: trenching, cabling, ducting, electrical install, ongoing maintenance and rising energy costs.
For defence estates, logistics hubs, commercial parks and public-sector campuses, switching to off-grid solar lighting removes thousands in installation and lifetime OPEX. It also removes future-proofing risks and reduces reactive maintenance visits.
Why our design stands out in UK conditions
- The UK’s often overcast skies, seasonal variation and demanding weather require solar street lighting built with flexibility – not imported from sunnier climates.
- That’s why our AE6 and similar models use a split-type design, separating solar panels, battery and LED fittings – to allow optimal panel orientation, better thermal management and compliance with wind-loading standards across the UK, including northern zones.
- While all-in-one units have merit (lower upfront cost, compact design), they often underperform under UK conditions (panels may face wrong direction or get shaded; battery capacity is limited; heat build-up can shorten lifespan).
- With Prolectric, FM clients get lighting that’s built for UK reality – not for sunshine – ensuring reliability, long life and predictable performance.
2. Sustainability gains without the typical price tag
Projects like the GRAHAM/DIO upgrades emphasise the need for “modern, fit-for-purpose facilities” that support operational capability. Solar lighting and power systems help FM companies meet Net Zero ambitions with tangible, reportable carbon savings: zero grid demand, no fuel, no emissions and no mains dependency.
This makes the simple swap a powerful differentiator when bidding for long-term FM frameworks.
3. A perfect fit for remote, multi-phase or complex estates
FM companies regularly work on estates where trenching is difficult, phased works are ongoing, access is restricted or the grid simply isn’t convenient. Solar street lighting and mobile battery systems can be deployed instantly and operate independently of the grid from day one.
This is why clients such as QinetiQ, Amey Defence Services, Vivo Defence and CBRE increasingly specify solar lighting as part of their upgrade or maintenance programmes.
How Prolectric supports FM customers with the simple swap
1. Solar street lighting as the foundation
Our solar street lights are engineered for year-round UK performance and provide reliable lighting for roads, car parks, perimeters, walkways and operational areas. They eliminate cabling, reduce disruption and remove lifetime energy costs – all crucial for FM contracts where you are measured against uptime, service levels and budget control.
Our solar street lights don’t just cut costs – they’re built with FM-friendly intelligence and longevity in mind. Every light can come equipped with our unique 3-PIR motion sensor (20 m detection range: 15 m forward, 12 m side), so lights activate only when needed – ideal for perimeters, access roads and areas with intermittent foot or vehicle traffic.
What’s more, our permanent solar street lighting range carries the Dark-Sky Approved certification – meaning it meets strict third-party standards for minimal glare, light spill and skyglow. For estates that value environmental stewardship, wildlife protection or community relations, this helps FM providers offer lighting that’s both effective and responsible.
2. Solar and battery power systems for broader resilience
Alongside lighting, our solar-hybrid generators, standalone battery systems and portable solar power units help FM teams reduce reliance on diesel, support backup resilience and provide clean power for remote zones, compounds, temporary offices and security systems.
3. Smart telematics for estate-wide visibility
For multi-site FM contracts, our telematics platform provides remote performance monitoring, maintenance alerts and data-led reporting – ideal for defence estates, logistics yards or education campuses where uptime, compliance and visibility are critical.
Quick wins for FM teams managing major estate upgrades
Inspired by the Edinburgh military estate upgrades? Here are easy-to-implement, high-impact steps FM teams are taking right now:
- Specify solar lighting at design stage to eliminate trenching and reduce future maintenance.
- Bundle lighting and power with smart monitoring to demonstrate performance, savings and ESG impact.
- Use solar and battery power to replace diesel generators in remote or temporary zones.
These upgrades are simple, fast to deploy and generate measurable operational and financial benefits.
Conclusion
For FM providers, the most straightforward way to reduce costs, elevate sustainability performance and deliver higher-value service for clients is to make one simple swap: replace traditional grid or diesel-powered lighting with off-grid solar solutions.
It’s the fastest sustainability win you can implement across defence, public-sector and commercial estates – backed by data, proven performance and years of operational success with FM clients just like QinetiQ, Amey Defence, Vivo and CBRE.
If you’d like support in modelling the cost and carbon savings for your estate, we can help.
By choosing Prolectric you’re not only making a simple swap to solar – you’re opting for a lighting solution designed for UK estates, equipped with smart sensors, certified for minimal light pollution and proven at scale across thousands of installations nationwide.
