Solar Street Lights

Solar Street Light Manufacturer and Supplier in China

Enkonn Solar Company is a leading manufacturer and supplier of solar street lighting. We have been focusing on designing and fabricating various kinds of solar systems for different streets and roads for our clients throughout the world for almost 20 years.

Our main production line includes integrated solar street lights (all-in-one), semi-integrated solar street lights (all-in-two), solar street lights with CCTV cameras, solar road lighting, and solar pathway lighting. Most of them are applied to highways, main roads, local streets, countryside roads, cul-de-sacs, and so on.

Enkonn Solar Company can also provide IoT solutions for large-scale solar lighting projects. With 4G/WiFi communication, clients can control all the solar lights in the project from their PCs or smartphones.

Commercial Solar Street Lights

our main production lines include all in one integrated solar street lights, all in two semi integrated solar street lights, AC/DC hybrid solar street lights, and so on.

Solar Street Light Systems

different solar street lighting series for commercial projects

Atlas Series All in One Solar Street Lights

40 – 400 watt, 170LM/w, IP65 waterproof, high power, suitable for large projects

Zenith Series All in One Solar Street Lights

30 – 120watt, 220LM/w, IP65 waterproof, wide applications for all kinds of road projects

Apex Series All in Two Solar Street Lights

30 – 200 watt, 180LM/W, can be 100% brightness for whole night, suitable for highway projects

Solar Powered LED Street Lights

Enkonn is a reputable manufacturer of solar-powered LED street lights. Our professional sales team will collaborate with you to recommend an appropriate solar lighting system for your project. Our engineering team will carefully assess your requirements and create a professional design. The solar-powered LED street lights typically have a lifespan of around 20 years with minimal maintenance needed for the solar battery.

Outdoor Solar Street Lights

Solar-powered LED street lights are designed for outdoor use and feature an IP65-66 waterproof rating, allowing them to withstand rainy seasons that may include 3 to 5 consecutive days of rain. Since these lights are intended for outdoor environments, all fastening bolts are made of stainless steel to prevent corrosion, particularly in coastal areas. The body of the lights is constructed from aluminum alloy, which is effective for heat dissipation. Additionally, the aluminum is anodized and coated to withstand harsh outdoor conditions and high humidity.

Solar Powered Street Lights with Pole

Enkonn not only provides lighting solutions but also offers solar-powered street lights with poles. Since integrated solar street lights can be quite heavy—such as a 100W model that may weigh around 20 kg—a reliable solar pole is essential. The pole must securely support the light and be sturdy enough to withstand hurricane conditions. Therefore, Enkonn typically supplies tapered solar poles with a thickness of 3.0 mm for large-scale solar road lighting projects. These tapered lighting poles come with a foundation cage that is long, large, and strong enough to be installed deeply underground.

Solar Road Lights

Most of our products are installed along controlled-access highways, national main roads, and local streets, where they require 100% brightness for all-night illumination due to heavy traffic. In these scenarios, we utilize semi-integrated models equipped with large solar panels and batteries to support long-duration lighting, typically for 12 hours per day.

Solar Street Lights with Motion Sensor

Additionally, our products can also be installed on pathways and rural roads with less foot traffic. In such cases, we can incorporate motion sensors into the lights. These sensors adjust the brightness to 30% when there are no human activities, allowing for energy savings while still providing adequate lighting when needed.

Enkonn’s all-in-one solar street lights are equipped with a motion sensor that can use either microwave or infrared technology to detect human movement. When someone approaches, the light adjusts to 100% brightness to provide adequate illumination. If there is no movement detected for 30 seconds, the brightness automatically decreases to 30% to conserve energy stored in the lithium-ion batteries.

Hybrid Solar Street Light

Some projects require full brightness at night all the time. While we can achieve this with larger solar panels and batteries, certain regions of the world experience long rainy seasons. In such cases, even large batteries may not provide enough illumination during prolonged periods without sunlight.

To address this issue, we offer an AC/DC hybrid solar street light solution. This system includes a module that allows the lights to connect to the grid. When the solar battery’s energy level falls below 10%, the system automatically switches to use grid electricity instead of relying solely on the solar battery.

Solar Panel Street Lights

Lighting Design and Rendering

enkonn solar engineering team uses Dialux to simulate the lighting distribution of a specific project to check the lighting effect before installation. This is a very important technical process because it can help us find major problems and assist in adjusting or improving the design of the project.

Solar Street Lighting Projects

successful solar street light projects for clients.

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Solutions to Solar-Related Lighting & Energy

What Are Solar Street Lights?

I remember standing in a remote village in Liberia watching as the first solar street light flickered to life. The entire community erupted in cheers. That moment cemented my belief in solar lighting’s transformative power, both for business and communities worldwide.

Solar street lights are standalone outdoor lighting fixtures powered entirely by photovoltaic panels. They capture solar energy during daylight hours, store it in batteries, and automatically illuminate roads and public spaces at night using energy-efficient LED lamps, requiring no connection to the electrical grid.

After 15+ years supplying solar lighting solutions through EnkonnSolar, I’ve seen firsthand how these systems revolutionize infrastructure development, especially in regions with unreliable electricity. Let me walk you through everything you need to know.

Are Solar Street Lights Worth It?

When a client from Australia called me panicking about a $12,000 electrical trenching quote just to add three street lights to his development, I smiled and suggested our solar alternative. Two weeks later, he’d installed our units for less than half the cost with zero ongoing electricity bills.

Solar street lights typically pay for themselves within 2-5 years through eliminated electricity costs and reduced maintenance. Their worth is highest in sunny regions, remote locations with expensive grid connection, and for projects prioritizing sustainability or seeking independence from unreliable power grids.

The financial equation for solar street lights becomes more compelling with each passing year. Here’s why I consistently recommend them to clients across various sectors:

Initial Cost vs. Long-Term Savings

The upfront investment for quality solar street lights typically runs 20-30% higher than traditional electric alternatives. However, this comparison ignores the substantial costs of trenching, wiring, and electrical infrastructure required for conventional lighting.

For many of my commercial clients in Middle Eastern countries, the elimination of these infrastructure costs alone creates immediate savings. One Saudi Arabian developer saved approximately $75,000 on a 50-unit installation simply by avoiding trenching costs in rocky terrain.

When factoring in ongoing electricity savings, most installations reach break-even within:

2-3 years in high-sunshine, high-electricity-cost regions
3-5 years in moderate-sunshine regions
5+ years in less optimal conditions

Environmental Impact Considerations

Beyond pure economics, many of my European clients factor environmental benefits into their calculations. A typical 60W solar street light can:

Reduce carbon emissions by approximately 300kg annually
Eliminate concerns about rising electricity costs
Avoid contributing to peak grid demand

For corporate and municipal clients with sustainability mandates, these benefits often justify the investment regardless of strict ROI calculations.

Reliability Factor

I’ve supplied solar lighting to regions recovering from natural disasters where grid reliability is questionable. In these situations, the autonomy of solar lighting provides security and safety benefits that transcend simple cost analysis.

Installation Type	Typical ROI Timeline	Best Applications
Urban Retrofit	3-5 years	Parks, walkways, secondary roads
New Development	1-3 years	Parking lots, community spaces
Remote Installation	Immediate	Any location without existing grid
Disaster Recovery	Immediate	Emergency lighting, security

The worth of a solar street light ultimately depends on your specific circumstances, but I’ve rarely encountered a scenario where they didn’t make both practical and financial sense over their lifetime.

How Long Do Solar Street Lights Last?

“Will these really last?” It’s the question I hear most often. Last year, I visited a client in Thailand who was still using our first-generation lights installed back in 2011. They weren’t as bright as new models, but 12 years later, they were still illuminating his property every night.

Quality solar street lights typically last 8-10 years as complete systems, with individual components having different lifespans: photovoltaic panels last 25+ years, batteries 3-7 years depending on type, and LED fixtures 50,000-100,000 hours (approximately 10-20 years of nighttime operation).

When discussing longevity with my clients, I emphasize that solar street lights are systems of components, each with their own lifecycle:

Solar Panel Lifespan

The photovoltaic panels are typically the longest-lasting component of any solar street light. In our EnkonnSolar manufacturing facility, we use panels rated for:

25+ years of operational life
Performance guarantee of at least 80% efficiency after 20 years
High resistance to environmental factors (hail, snow, salt spray)

I’ve personally inspected 15-year-old panels that still operate at 90% of their original capacity. These components rarely require replacement during the useful life of the system.

Battery Durability

Batteries represent the most variable component in terms of longevity:

Standard lead-acid batteries: 3-5 years
Gel batteries: 5-7 years
Lithium-ion batteries: 7-10+ years

The actual lifespan depends heavily on environmental conditions, particularly temperature extremes. For clients in extreme climates like the Middle East, we usually recommend lithium-ion options despite the higher initial cost. One project manager in Dubai reported his lithium systems were still at 92% capacity after 5 years, while nearby lead-acid systems required replacement after just 3 years.

LED Light Fixture Longevity

Modern LED fixtures are rated for 50,000-100,000 hours of operation, which translates to:

10-20 years of standard nighttime operation
Gradual reduction in brightness over time rather than sudden failure
Minimal color shift compared to older LED technologies

Controller Electronics

The charge controllers and light management electronics typically last 8-10 years. These components may require replacement at some point during the system’s life, but represent a minor part of the overall cost.

For clients concerned about longevity, I always recommend focusing on quality over initial price. I’ve seen too many projects fail prematurely after choosing the lowest-cost option. Quality solar street lights from reputable manufacturers should provide at least 8-10 years of reliable operation before requiring significant component replacement.

Are You Supposed to Leave Solar Lights On All the Time?

During a project consultation last month, a municipal client asked if they needed staff to turn the lights on and off each day. I couldn’t help but laugh – the beauty of these systems is their autonomy!

Modern solar street lights are designed to operate automatically without manual intervention. They typically include light sensors or timers that activate the lights at dusk and either turn them off at dawn or reduce brightness during low-traffic hours to conserve energy. Manual operation is unnecessary and would eliminate key efficiency benefits.

The automation capabilities of contemporary solar street lights extend far beyond simple on/off functionality, making manual operation not just unnecessary but counterproductive:

Intelligent Energy Management

Modern controllers in our EnkonnSolar lights employ sophisticated energy management algorithms that:

Automatically adjust brightness based on battery charge levels
Implement adaptive lighting schedules based on seasonal sunlight patterns
Detect motion to increase brightness when pedestrians or vehicles approach
Reduce output during non-peak hours to extend battery life

I installed a system for a business park in Singapore that automatically dims to 30% brightness at midnight, then returns to full brightness when motion is detected. This smart operation extended battery backup capacity to cover even multiple cloudy days.

Optimized for Local Conditions

Quality solar street lights can be programmed for specific location needs:

Custom lighting schedules for special events or seasonal variations
Different brightness profiles for weekdays versus weekends
Emergency overrides for disaster situations

Autonomous Operation Benefits

The autonomous nature of these systems provides several advantages:

Elimination of human error in operation
Zero labor costs for daily management
Consistent performance regardless of staff availability
Automatic adjustment to changing daylight hours throughout the year

One county government I work with calculated they were saving approximately $45,000 annually in labor costs alone by switching from manually operated traditional lights to autonomous solar systems.

For most applications, the ideal approach is to allow the solar street lights to operate according to their pre-programmed parameters. The systems are specifically designed to optimize energy capture, storage, and usage without human intervention.

How Do You Maintain Solar Street Lights?

“Just set it and forget it,” I told a new client last year. Three months later, he called complaining about performance issues. When I asked about maintenance, there was awkward silence. Even the best systems need basic care.

Maintaining solar street lights requires periodic panel cleaning (2-4 times annually), annual battery inspection, fixture cleaning, and structural examination every 6-12 months. Most systems alert to component failure through performance monitoring. Proper maintenance can extend system life by 30-50% while ensuring optimal illumination.

Based on my experience supplying solar street lights to diverse global environments, I’ve developed a straightforward maintenance approach that keeps systems performing optimally:

Regular Cleaning Schedule

The single most important maintenance task is keeping the solar panels clean. Dust, bird droppings, leaves, and pollution can significantly reduce charging efficiency:

In moderate environments: clean quarterly
In dusty/high-pollution areas: clean monthly
After sandstorms or heavy pollen seasons: clean immediately

One client in a dusty region of Australia reported a 30% performance improvement after implementing a regular cleaning protocol. They use a simple extension pole with a soft brush and water spray that allows ground-level cleaning without specialized equipment.

Battery System Checks

Battery maintenance depends on the type installed:

Lead-acid batteries: Check electrolyte levels every 6 months (if accessible)
Sealed batteries: Annual visual inspection for swelling or leakage
All types: Monitor performance metrics if your system includes remote monitoring

Structural Inspection

Physical components should be checked periodically:

Pole integrity and foundation stability (annually)
Mount security for solar panels and fixtures (annually)
Wiring connections (annually)
Corrosion protection, especially in coastal areas (semi-annually)

LED Fixture Maintenance

LED fixtures require minimal maintenance but benefit from:

Cleaning light diffusers/lenses annually to maintain brightness
Checking for water ingress after extreme weather events
Confirming proper aim/direction hasn’t shifted due to wind

Preventive Replacement

Based on component lifecycles, I recommend clients budget for:

Battery replacement after 5-7 years (depending on type)
Controller replacement after 8-10 years
LED replacement after 10+ years if brightness has diminished significantly

Remote Monitoring Advantages

For larger installations, I strongly recommend systems with remote monitoring capabilities. A government client in Southeast Asia saved thousands in maintenance costs when their system automatically alerted them to three batteries beginning to fail, allowing targeted replacement before system failure.

The beauty of proper maintenance is its simplicity and cost-effectiveness. A well-maintained solar street light can operate at peak efficiency for 10+ years, while neglected systems often show significant degradation after just 3-4 years. Most maintenance tasks can be performed by general maintenance staff without specialized training.

How High Should Solar Street Lights Be?

A new distributor once asked me why his solar lights seemed so dim. When he sent photos, I immediately spotted the problem – they were mounted at least 3 meters too high. “You’re trying to illuminate twice the area with the same amount of light,” I explained. Height matters tremendously.

Solar street lights should typically be installed at heights between 4-12 meters depending on their application. Pathway and garden lights work best at 3-5 meters, residential street lights at 6-8 meters, and main road lights at 8-12 meters. The optimal height balances light distribution, energy efficiency, and safety while considering wind exposure and maintenance accessibility.

Setting the correct mounting height for solar street lights requires balancing multiple factors:

Application-Specific Height Guidelines

Based on thousands of installations, I’ve developed these guidelines for optimal height by application:

Application	Recommended Height	Light Distribution	Typical Fixture Wattage
Garden/Pathway	3-4 meters	10-15 meter diameter	15-25W
Park/Plaza	4-6 meters	15-25 meter diameter	30-40W
Residential Street	6-8 meters	20-30 meter diameter	40-60W
Commercial Area	8-10 meters	25-35 meter diameter	60-80W
Main Road	10-12 meters	30-40 meter diameter	80-120W
Large Area	12-15 meters	40-50 meter diameter	120-200W

These heights harmonize illumination needs with the practical constraints of solar-powered systems.

Light Distribution Considerations

Height directly affects illumination pattern and quality:

Too Low (Below Recommended Height)

Creates intense “hot spots” of light
Reduces overall coverage area
Potentially creates glare for pedestrians and drivers
May increase vulnerability to vandalism

Too High (Above Recommended Height)

Dilutes light intensity at ground level
Requires higher-powered fixtures (increasing system cost)
Creates uneven illumination with dark spots between poles
Increases wind load on the entire structure

A transportation department I worked with in Australia conducted illumination testing at various heights, ultimately confirming that our recommended 8-meter mounting provided optimal distribution for their suburban road project.

Wind Exposure Factors

Height significantly impacts wind vulnerability:

Wind Load Considerations

Force increases exponentially with height
Solar panels create significant “sail area”
Local maximum wind speeds must be considered
Structural engineering becomes more critical at greater heights

For installations in typhoon-prone regions of Southeast Asia, we typically reduce recommended heights by 10-15% and strengthen structural components to compensate for extreme wind conditions.

Maintenance Accessibility

Practical maintenance considerations affect height decisions:

Service Access Requirements

Panel cleaning equipment reach limitations
Battery and component access
Safety considerations for maintenance personnel
Availability of bucket trucks or lifting equipment

Many municipal clients standardize on 6-8 meter heights specifically because their maintenance teams have equipment that safely reaches this range without specialized vehicles.

Security Factors

Height can impact security both positively and negatively:

Security Considerations

Higher mounting reduces theft vulnerability
Lower mounting improves facial recognition for security cameras
Anti-climbing features more important at lower heights
Light uniformity affects security camera effectiveness

For a correctional facility perimeter project, we specifically designed 5-meter heights to optimize both security camera functionality and minimize tampering risk.

The optimal height ultimately represents a carefully considered compromise between these factors. I always recommend conducting a site-specific analysis rather than defaulting to standardized heights, as local conditions can significantly impact the ideal configuration.

What Is Hybrid Street Light?

During a project consultation in an industrial zone with high nighttime activity, a client insisted they needed conventional grid lighting. “Your facility operates 24/7, but you still experience frequent outages,” I countered. “What about a hybrid approach?” The solution transformed their operations.

A hybrid street light combines solar power generation with grid connectivity, providing the reliability of traditional street lights with the energy independence of solar systems. These lights primarily operate on solar power but can automatically switch to grid electricity during extended cloudy periods or when batteries are depleted, ensuring uninterrupted illumination regardless of weather conditions.

Hybrid street lighting technology represents an elegant solution to the limitations of both purely solar and conventional systems:

Operational Functionality

At its core, a hybrid system incorporates sophisticated switching technology:

Primary Operation Mode

Solar power generation and battery storage operate as the default power source
LED fixture draws from battery during normal operation
Intelligent controller monitors battery charge levels continuously
System calculates projected energy needs based on time of year and programmed settings

Grid Intervention Points

Automatically activates grid power when battery reaches predefined threshold (typically 20-30%)
Uses grid power during extended cloudy periods
Can be programmed to use grid power during specific hours (e.g., peak winter months)
Returns to solar operation when sufficient battery charge is restored

For a critical infrastructure project in a region with monsoon seasons, we implemented hybrid systems that seamlessly transitioned between power sources, maintaining 100% uptime despite weeks of limited sunshine.

Technical Configuration

Hybrid systems incorporate additional components beyond standard solar street lights:

Essential Components

Standard solar components (panels, batteries, charge controller)
Grid connection interface with surge protection
Automatic transfer switch mechanism
Smart controller with monitoring capabilities
Optional remote management system

Design Variations

Full-sized solar system with grid backup (true hybrid)
Reduced solar capacity with regular grid supplementation (grid-primary hybrid)
Solar retrofit to existing conventional lights (conversion hybrid)

Ideal Application Scenarios

From experience, these systems excel in specific situations:

Best Applications

Critical infrastructure requiring guaranteed operation
Regions with seasonal extreme weather patterns
Areas with unreliable grid electricity
Locations transitioning toward renewable energy
Security installations requiring 100% reliability

A municipality in the Philippines implemented hybrid lighting along evacuation routes specifically to ensure operation during typhoon-related grid outages – precisely when illumination becomes most critical.

Cost-Benefit Analysis

The economic case for hybrid systems occupies the middle ground between pure solar and conventional lighting:

Financial Considerations

Higher initial cost than both conventional and standard solar systems
Lower operational costs than conventional systems
Reduced solar component sizing compared to standalone solar
Balanced lifetime cost profile
Reduced risk of outage-related costs

For commercial clients, I often frame hybrid systems as operational insurance – the additional 15-20% investment over standard solar provides guaranteed illumination for critical applications.

Control Sophistication

Modern hybrid systems offer advanced control capabilities:

Smart Management Features

Programmable priority settings for power source selection
Time-of-use optimization to utilize grid power during lowest-cost periods
Weather-predictive controls using forecast data
Remote monitoring and management
Performance analytics for system optimization

An airport access road project we supplied utilized forecast integration that preemptively charged batteries before predicted storm systems, ensuring maximum solar utilization despite challenging weather patterns.

Hybrid street lighting represents the best of both worlds – combining renewable energy’s environmental and cost benefits with the unwavering reliability of grid infrastructure. For applications where illumination simply cannot fail, these systems provide an ideal solution.