Description/ Specification of Solar Street Light

Solar Street lights are a new generation green energy product that are having multiple benefits. They draw energy from solar panels which are generally mounted on the light structure itself. The panel produces solar power during daytime, which is used to charge batteries. In the night the battery supplies the power to the light bulb. Thus, a solar light is a self-contained structure with its own solar panel and rechargeable battery. There is also a controller which switches the light on and off sensing the level of illumination in the area. It also controls to prevent draining and over charging of batteries. Solar streetlights use energy efficient LED bulbs. The solar panels used may be Monocrystalline or polycrystalline type, with the former offering greater efficiency at higher cost. Solar streetlights offer several advantage over the conventional streetlights. They are energy efficient, environment friendly, and needs less maintenance. As they do not need to connect to mains supply, they are easy to install and can operate even in remote areas which do not have access to mains supply. They are also safe to operate due to absence of underground cable connections. However, there are also some disadvantages. Although the operating cost is lower , the initial investment is high. The panels require periodic cleaning of dust ,snow etc, as otherwise they will lose their generating power and may stop working altogether. The rechargeable batteries also require periodic replacement over the lifetime of these systems. Since the equipment are costly, chances of theft also increase. But considering all the above aspects , the benefits of solar lights outweigh the disadvantages and offers a great scope to reduce fossil fuel use and carbon emissions. It is also expected that with their mass scale adoption and govt support, the cost will reduce, thereby making them more financially viable.