SOLAR LIGHTING FACT VS FICTION
By Newon on January 20, 2021
Solar lighting is expensive and unreliable. It only works in warm locations. Despite proven benefits and growing popularity, misinformation abounds about what solar lighting is, how it works, and for whom it works best.
Fortunately, you don’t have to believe everything you hear. Qualified solar lighting professionals—that’s us!—can help you separate fact from fiction to make an informed decision for your lighting project. Read on as we address some of the most common solar lighting myths and correct the misinformation surrounding this sustainable energy source.
SOLAR LIGHTING IS EXPENSIVE:
This is one we hear a lot. And while there might have been some truth to it a couple of decades ago, it’s simply not the case today. In 2020, system costs for solar lighting and traditional grid-connected lighting were comparable, and if you evaluate the total costs over a system’s lifespan, solar comes out ahead—way ahead.
Why? Because with solar, power is essentially free. Rather than paying your municipality for electrical power, you can get it from the sun. Add the fact that installation requires no trenching and solar systems typically have limited operational and maintenance costs and you’ve got yourself one cost-effective light.
SOLAR LIGHTING IS UNRELIABLE:
On the contrary! Solar-powered lighting is far more reliable than traditional, grid-connected lighting, increasingly susceptible to blackouts and brownouts.
Solar lighting operates autonomously, meaning that if an outage or failure occurs, only a unit will go dark, not the entire network. This ability to sidestep widespread outages is a clear advantage of solar lighting, bringing a sense of safety and security to all communities that choose it.
SOLAR LIGHTING ONLY WORKS IN SUNNY LOCATIONS:
We dispelled this one in detail in a previous post, but to recap: Solar lighting works just fine in higher latitudes where cooler temperatures and cloudy skies are the norms. They often work even better in cloudy locations because the photovoltaic panels most solar lighting manufacturers use prefer lower temperatures.
You can go solar just about anywhere by conducting a comprehensive site assessment and using a resilient and high-performance product.
SOLAR LIGHTING IS ONLY RELEVANT FOR THE OFF-GRID LOCATION:
While it’s true that one advantage of solar is that it works well a in remote location, that doesn’t mean it isn’t also an excellent option for areas with readily accessible grid power.
Around the world, a growing number of municipalities are looking for solar lighting to illuminate roadways, parking lots, industrial areas, and more. There are a slew of reasons for this, many of which are included in this article! Whether you’re looking to reduce costs, improve reliability, or promote sustainability, solar lighting is a solid option for remote communities.
If you have queries about solar products, contact us at 03439227883.