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The sun is the most powerful energy source we are currently able to access. In fact, the earth can absorb more energy in just one hour then the world uses in an entire year.
With recent advances in solar technology, solar street lights are now a viable option in the UK. They can be used to improve public safety and can radically reduce installation costs for local authorities.
Here’s our rundown of everything you need to know about solar panels for street lighting.
Solar panels are devices that convert light into electricity. Solar panels are made up of lots of smaller solar cells. These cells are spread over a larger area to provide enough power.
Each solar cell is basically a sandwich made up of two slices of semi-conducting material, usually silicon.
Put simply, solar panels work by allowing photons (particles of light) to knock electrons free from atoms. This generates a flow of electricity. This is known as the photovoltaic effect.
The photovoltaic effect works through the following steps.
Solar panel efficiency is shown in %. It’s a measure of how much sunlight a solar panel can convert into usable electricity.
As a rule of thumb when purchasing solar street lights; the higher percentage efficiency the panel is, the higher quality the unit is.
Monocrystalline Solar Panels
Made of monocrystalline silicon, this type of panel can be recognised by its uniform dark look and rounded edges. Thanks to the silicon’s high purity, this type of panel has high efficiency rates.
Compared to other panel types currently available, monocrystalline panels have a higher power output, occupy less space and last the longest.
Polycrystalline Solar Panels
This type of panel has square cells and a blue, sometimes speckled look. Polycrystalline solar panels are made by melting raw silicon. This is a faster and cheaper process then the one used for monocrystalline panels.
This results in lower cost lighting units. However, the cost saving is offset by lower efficiency. Polycrystalline panels have a shorter lifespan and are more effected by hot temperatures.
This online CPD course is designed for lighting engineers, contractors, designers and architects. You will leave the course with a firm grasp on the different components of a solar street light, how they work and how best to make use of solar technology.
This tool can be used to compare installation costs of wired and solar lighting schemes and to calculate the installation cost savings available by using solar technology.
This tool makes the business case for solar lighting by estimating the yearly and lifetime cost and emissions savings permitted by choosing solar lighting units instead of mains wired units.
Unit F1 Grafton WayWest Ham Industrial EstateBasingstoke, HantsRG22 6HY
01256 308467
©2020 Acrospire
Our story
The idea for Acrospire was formed in 2012 when founder Tim envisioned a different kind of lighting manufacturer: one that would not only deliver outstanding customer experiences but also prioritise fair treatment for its employees.
We’ve come a long way
Motivated by the belief the industry wanted and needed better, Tim shared his plan to establish his own venture with Hatty, who simply couldn't let him do it alone.
The rest, as they say, is history.
Protecting local jobs and ensuring the best quality possible.
Working from a rented office by day and assembling lanterns in a garage at night, Tim and Hatty set to work.
11 Years later
Acrospire now inhabits a 14000² ft manufacturing facility in Basingstoke, Hampshire. We’re a proud partner of the Made in Britain scheme, ISO9001 certified and a member of all relevant lighting industry trade bodies.
Along with great relationships with our customers and a great team! We've attracted some of the most experienced members of the lighting industry, all by following one golden rule.
A simple ethos
That runs through all that we do. Customers who have made the switch to Acrospire have found working with us to be a breath of fresh air.
If you’re a professional in the lighting industry, you’re probably familiar with warranties that range from 3 to 10 years, with extensions available on special request or at additional cost. At Acrospire, where we’re proud to be different, we offer a market-leading simple 12-year warranty, as standard.
We focus on our customers not our competition. We manufacture our products in the UK: with the exception of our solar products, our supply chain is within a 60-mile radius of our factory in Basingstoke: to maintain greater control over quality. We al
Speed of response is crucial when it comes to resolving warranty issues. If we’ve made a mistake, we own it, get to the root cause, and fix it as quickly as possible. We believe in timely communication with our customers and making the resolution pro
Test and Test Again
We believe in independent testing and certification. Our new product development is in line with ISO 9001. Many of our products hold ENEC Certification. To meet the requirements of ENEC we also send random product samples for third party safety testi
Our product design is another key factor in our ability to offer a 12-year warranty. We value engineer rather than cost cut, never compromising on quality. We stick to our processes and engage with our supply chain to ensure that every product meets