Installing solar street lighting involves more than choosing a light, mounting it on a pole and positioning a solar panel towards the sun. A well-designed system needs to account for the site, required illumination, solar exposure, battery capacity, pole placement and how the area will actually be used after dark.
Getting the solar street lighting design right from the beginning can improve lighting performance, reliability and long-term value while helping avoid unnecessary installation changes later.
Whether you’re planning lighting for a new development, car park, pathway, industrial site or public space, here are the key factors to consider before installation.
1. Understand the Area You Need to Light
Start by considering what the lighting needs to achieve.
A quiet pedestrian pathway has very different requirements from a car park, access road or busy public area. Understanding the site’s purpose helps determine the appropriate lighting output, distribution and placement.
Consider:
For larger projects, a professional lighting design can help establish appropriate light levels and identify how many luminaires are actually required.
2. Assess Solar Exposure
Unlike mains-powered lighting, solar street lights need to generate and store their own energy. This makes solar exposure one of the most important parts of the design process.
Solar panels should receive adequate sunlight throughout the day. Buildings, trees, signage and other structures can create shade that reduces solar generation.
The position of the sun also changes throughout the year, so a location that receives excellent sunlight in summer may experience more shading during winter.
A proper site assessment should therefore consider year-round solar conditions, not just conditions on the day of installation.
3. Choose the Right Light Output and Distribution
More light isn’t necessarily better lighting.
Effective street lighting should provide useful, evenly distributed illumination where it is required without creating excessive glare or unnecessary light spill.
Factors including pole height, spacing, LED output and beam angle all influence the final result.
Sonaray’s range of solar street lights incorporates LED and optical technology designed to provide directional and even light distribution for applications including streets, car parks, pathways, developments and public spaces.
For larger open areas where broader illumination is required, solar flood lights may also form part of the overall lighting solution.
4. Consider Pole Height and Spacing
Pole placement has a major impact on both performance and project cost.
Placing poles too far apart can create dark areas between lights. Installing more poles than necessary, however, can increase equipment and installation costs without necessarily improving the result.
The correct configuration depends on factors such as:
Photometric lighting design can model these factors before installation and help determine an efficient layout.
5. Battery Capacity and Night-Time Operation
The solar panel produces energy during daylight hours, but the battery needs to store enough energy to operate the light throughout the night.
Battery sizing should consider expected operating hours, LED power requirements and periods of reduced solar generation.
Smart controls can further improve efficiency. Depending on the application, solar lighting can incorporate features such as:
These controls help use stored energy efficiently while still providing appropriate illumination when it is needed.
6. Design for Australian Conditions
Outdoor lighting equipment is exposed to heat, UV radiation, wind, rain, dust and, in coastal areas, potentially corrosive conditions.
Equipment selection should therefore consider the specific environment in which the lighting will operate.
Sonaray’s broader range of solar outdoor lights provides solutions for different outdoor applications, including street lighting, pathways, car parks and other locations where connecting to mains electricity may be impractical.
Durable housings, appropriate weather protection and quality components are particularly important for installations expected to remain in service for many years.
7. Consider Australian Lighting Standards
For public roads, pathways, car parks and other infrastructure projects, lighting design may also need to satisfy relevant Australian Standards and project-specific requirements.
The AS/NZS 1158 series covers lighting for roads and public spaces, with requirements varying according to the location and application. Lighting professionals can determine which standards and lighting categories apply to a particular project.
For projects where light spill towards neighbouring properties or surrounding areas is a concern, obtrusive lighting requirements may also need to be considered.
Designing with compliance in mind from the outset is much easier than attempting to correct an unsuitable layout after installation.
8. Think About Maintenance and Long-Term Performance
Although solar street lighting can remove ongoing electricity consumption and much of the infrastructure associated with grid-connected lighting, it should not be treated as completely maintenance-free.
A long-term maintenance plan may include:
Easy access to components and good-quality equipment can make future servicing considerably simpler.
Why Professional Solar Lighting Design Matters
Every site presents different challenges. A solution that works well for a pathway may not provide the required performance for a road, car park or commercial development.
Professional lighting design allows factors such as lux levels, pole positions, beam distribution and fixture quantities to be assessed before installation. Sonaray uses photometric lighting design to help determine suitable layouts and illumination levels for individual projects.
This can help avoid both under-lighting, which can compromise visibility, and over-lighting, which can increase costs and create unnecessary glare.
Related Reading
If you’re researching solar lighting for an upcoming project, you may also find these Sonaray articles useful:
You can also explore the latest lighting advice, applications and project information on the Sonaray Blog.
Plan Your Solar Street Lighting Project with Sonaray
Good solar street lighting starts with good design. From solar exposure and battery capacity to pole positioning, light distribution and compliance requirements, considering these factors early can make a significant difference to the performance of your finished installation.
Sonaray works with councils, developers, engineers, architects and commercial clients to develop solar lighting solutions suited to Australian conditions. The team can assist with product selection, lighting layouts and technical guidance to create a system suited to your site’s requirements.
Planning a new solar street lighting project? Contact Sonaray on (03) 9315 1377 to discuss your site and request a tailored lighting plan and quote.
