Hybrid Grid-Connected Exterior Lighting Project to Increase Safety for Disadvantaged Communities

Limited exterior lighting conditions can be prevalent in disadvantaged communities and may result in increased safety concerns from residents. To help address these conditions, EPRI is leading a demonstration project to provide affordable, reliable, exterior lighting for low-income and/or disadvantaged communities across California. 

The California Energy Commission (CEC) provided funding to EPRI, along with project partners ClearWorld and Redwood Energy, for the development, testing, and operation of hybrid solar exterior lighting for communities where light levels are often below standard requirements for a safe and useable space under GFO-20-303. 

“The CEC is proud to support this innovative project, which will help provide an additional measure of safety and security in disadvantaged communities through a unique hybrid solar lighting system,” said Adel Suleiman, CEC project manager.

The research project will deploy more than 100 LED hybrid-powered exterior lights at eight sites across California. Locations include residential communities, schools, and public recreational parks.

“We plan to provide an affordable and efficient smart solution, using solar energy to charge batteries during the day to light up communities at night,” said Sara Beaini, EPRI program manager of the Advanced Buildings and Communities research area. “Solar-powered LED lighting is not a new concept, but our team is incorporating an innovative grid-connected feature. After installation, we will evaluate the effectiveness in solving the lighting problems of these communities through measurement, verification and community feedback, then work toward a pathway for commercialization and greater deployment.”

Streetlights connected to the power grid offer greater reliability under various conditions. For example, when daylight alone cannot fully charge the batteries due to cloud cover, rain, or smoke, the batteries can charge by drawing power from the grid. The batteries also can be charged overnight during periods of lower-cost grid power. Conversely, when communities experience power outages, solar energy and the batteries can keep the lights on at night. 

To keep costs low when renewable energy use is high, EPRI and ClearWorld intend to provide a smaller battery than what is typically deployed for solar streetlights. Solar charging of the batteries provides energy savings and lower utility bills. The lights also have the capability to dim when they detect no motion and brighten when movement triggers motion sensors, leading to additional savings.

To provide consistent power to the light, the lithium-ion batteries are stored behind the solar panel. Plus, this combination of solar and battery can be used with any light and pole design to meet the aesthetic requirements of any community or building owner. The goal is for the battery to power the streetlight for up to 28 hours in an off-grid mode.

EPRI and its collaborators have been developing product specifications and establishing project parameters informed by the configurations and needs of the diverse host sites. EPRI will manage the project and provide guidance throughout every phase. Installation of the lighting systems will be underway later this year, with installation in all eight communities targeted for the fourth quarter of 2023. 

ClearWorld, a project collaborator, is supporting the project through product development and manufacturing. Its solution of flexible solar panels that wrap around the light pole is different from the traditional option of a rectangular solar panel that is mounted to the pole.

“The Retroflex solution is an aesthetically pleasing, vertically- wrapped, hybrid solar system that retrofits to new or existing light poles, on and off grid. The design provides a customizable level of functionality and is maintenance free. These systems can provide real-time application uses and secure visibility through smart lighting, WI-FI, cameras, and other smart sensor technologies. As infrastructure technologies continue to evolve, storing and computing data on the edge requires reliable backup power. Whether combating rising energy rates or ensuring power generation as outages and natural disasters continue to occur, smart solar powered light poles will be a must have for the future of infrastructure” said Larry Tittle, founder and CEO at ClearWorld.

Another collaborator, Redwood Energy, is leading community engagement with the participating communities and site hosts. They conduct pre- and post-implementation surveys to ensure the solution meets the needs of the residents and site managers. The Redwood Energy team is also engaging with Community Based Organizations (CBOs) at each site location to develop technology transfer opportunities and engage local residents for feedback. 

“We are excited to see what the net effects of this technology are, not only on the grid, but also on people’s daily lives,” said Dylan Anderson, Redwood energy electrification analyst. “The results of the surveys at this stage and our own experience working with these communities and CBOs has outlined the need for resilient and responsive lighting that can help make our shared spaces safer at night and during grid outages. We hope that developers, utilities, and local governments will be able to implement this technology in the coming years to help strengthen our communities.”  

In the final project report, due to be published by early 2025, the team will deliver market assessments and a commercialization plan, including recommendations of suitable locations to deploy this technology across the country.