Latest solar powered technological advancements have paved the way for automatic street light systems to take the front seat. These automatic solar street lights are raised outdoor light sources powered by photovoltaic panels. These photovoltaic panels are either connected in the pole or mounted on the lighting structure. There is a rechargeable battery in the automatic street light system which provides the requisite power to the LED lamp during the entire night. These solar street lights are able to automatically sense outdoor light with the help of a sensor. They can this way smartly save power & give light on successive nights even when sunlight is unavailable for a couple of days. This is the reason many users nowadays are switching over to solar street lights.
Advantages of Automatic Solar Street Lights
First of all solar energy is absolutely free & is a renewable resource for generating electricity. Here are some other advantages of using the automatic solar street light system.
- Since automatic street light systems feature no moving parts, they require less maintenance than conventional street lights.
- The automatic solar street light system is a stand-alone arrangement & therefore requires no external wiring or having to connect with the grid.
- There are lower chances of the automatic street light system overheating & risk of accidents is also minimized.
- Cost of operating automatic solar street lights is far less when compared to the conventional street lights.
- The automatic street light system is eco-friendly & hence helps in reducing the carbon footprint.
- Smart solar street lights can be put up in remote areas even in places that are not accessible to the grid.
Disadvantages of Automatic Solar Street Lights
There are some disadvantages which are associated with solar street lights as well.
- The automatic street light system requires a higher initial investment in comparison to conventional street lights.
- Generation of energy for solar street light entirely depends upon the climatic conditions.
- Risk of theft of the automatic street light system is relatively higher since they are non-wired & are much expensive.
- Rechargeable batteries of the automatic street light system are required to be replaced a few times.
- Snow, dust or moisture can accumulate of PV panels which can hinder energy production.
Application of Automatic Solar Street Lights
Application of automatic solar street light systems is fast growing in popularity throughout the world. These have proved to be inexpensive means of lighting up roads & which are also sustainable & eco-friendly. Automatic street light systems have several applications because of their beneficial characteristics.
- Government Units & Municipalities – Government organizations can save large sums of money by using an automatic solar street light system for outdoor lighting. It is forecasted that we will have 359 million street lights by 2026.
- Corporate & Big Businesses – Many companies nowadays are applying green energy technologies & practices to reduce their carbon footprint. Installing automatic street light system can prove to be a step in this direction.
- Great Way to Light Up Streets – Apart from lighting up streets automatic solar street light system along with CCTV can also provide us additional security. Smart solar street lights are wireless & one of the street lighting solutions.
- Along Roads & Highways – High-quality automatic street light systems can enhance night-time visibility on rural roads, main roads & highways. These are also very easy to install & are affordably priced.
- Parks & Recreational Areas – Areas which are mainly donned by children can make good use of automatic street light systems. They are safe & secure & provide uniform lighting & the right amount of luminosity to parks.
- Schools & Universities – Automatic solar street light system is an excellent choice for schools, colleges & universities. With plenty of accessible areas, ranging from bus shelters to parking lots institutions can install them throughout the campus.
Future Scope of Automatic Solar Street Lights
With the advancement in science & technology future scope of automatic solar street lights is very bright. Demand for power affects human life in many ways. It is not only important but essential to find ways to conserve power in order to prevent exhausting resources. Switching to a smart automatic street light system will also reduce power wastage which conventional street lights are known to do.