A solar street light draws electricity from batteries which are feuled by energy drawn by solar panels. This electricity may be enhanced by energy drawn from a micro wind turbine. The combination of a micro wind turbine and a solar panel is known as a "hybrid" system. We offer both systems.
Due to recent and on-going supply problems experienced in South Africa, regulatory bodies have announced the use of a power rationing scheme must be implemented to help reduce the pressure on the national grid.
Temporary shutting down of systems and load shedding has a negative effect on our economy and life style, besides leaving us vulnerable to criminal activities in the dark.
The only way to achieve a sustainable energy consumption reduction will involve the implementation of energy efficient programs in all sectors. These programs typically aim at installing energy efficient devices that consume less energy but still provide the same service levels.
Why Solar?
Speaking to Engineering News, CEO of Broadwing Technologies Dan Hurwitz highlighted some of the key advantages of installing solar powered street lights:
· Installation costs compare favourably to installation of conventional street lights, with capital costs being more or less equal· Installation offers instant electrification as there is no need to trench cables or wait for connection to the national power grid.· Lifecycle maintenance costs of the installation are favourable as the Light Emitting Diode (LED) bulbs used in the street lights use a lower voltage to produce a brighter light and can be used without replacement for about 20 years.
Hurwitz expressed the possibility of retrofitting existing high pressure sodium and mercury vapour street lights with more efficient LED lights. This would contribute to alleviating some of the strain on the Eskom national grid, Hurwitz told Engineering News.
"Our estimation is that for every 12 000 or 15 000 street lights that are retrofitted, you could save 1 MW. We believe that City Power, in Johannesburg, has about 140 000 street lights installed just in their region, so if one took the whole country, doing these replacements could save a significant number of megawatts and it would certainly help with the electricity crisis that the country is facing," said Hurwitz.
Speaking to Engineering News, CEO of Broadwing Technologies Dan Hurwitz highlighted some of the key advantages of installing solar powered street lights:
· Installation costs compare favourably to installation of conventional street lights, with capital costs being more or less equal· Installation offers instant electrification as there is no need to trench cables or wait for connection to the national power grid.· Lifecycle maintenance costs of the installation are favourable as the Light Emitting Diode (LED) bulbs used in the street lights use a lower voltage to produce a brighter light and can be used without replacement for about 20 years.
Hurwitz expressed the possibility of retrofitting existing high pressure sodium and mercury vapour street lights with more efficient LED lights. This would contribute to alleviating some of the strain on the Eskom national grid, Hurwitz told Engineering News.
"Our estimation is that for every 12 000 or 15 000 street lights that are retrofitted, you could save 1 MW. We believe that City Power, in Johannesburg, has about 140 000 street lights installed just in their region, so if one took the whole country, doing these replacements could save a significant number of megawatts and it would certainly help with the electricity crisis that the country is facing," said Hurwitz.
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