Prepared for the U.S.

Department of Energy under Contract DE-AC05-76RL01830

PNNL-SA-82218

Solar Powered Exterior LED Lighting Systems: Considerations for Federal Facility Managers

O Hazra

August 2011

Introduction This paper provides a brief introduction to solar powered exterior light-emitting diode (LED) lighting systems, highlights the benefits and challenges that federal facility managers should consider when evaluating these systems, and provides links to additional resources. LEDs in Exterior Applications LED luminaires (same as fixtures) are being implemented in a number of applications, including street lighting, parking lots, pathway lighting, and canopy lighting. New developments in LED technology and luminaire design can deliver energy savings of 30 percent or more in these applications. For more information on LED technologies, including energy savings, visit the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) Solid-State Lighting website1. For information on LED luminaire performance in outdoor areas, refer to field studies conducted for DOE GATEWAY2 demonstration projects. Solar Power for LED Exterior Applications Solar panel collection systems using photovoltaic (PV) technology are a direct current (DC) energy source, which for most applications, including standard lighting, must be converted to alternating current (AC). However, since LED technology is inherently DC driven, it is more suitable for integration with solar power systems. The potential low power requirement for many LED applications also makes LED more suitable because solar power capacity is currently more limited in comparison to typical electrical grid AC power. Solar panel or photovoltaic systems are being paired with LED exterior lighting systems to leverage renewable energy benefits and off-grid flexibility. Solar driven lighting systems generally consist of a lamp, fixture, solar panels, inverter and/or converter, battery, support structure, and foundation.3 Figure 1 shows a diagram of a solar system coupled with an LED street luminaire.

Figure 1. Block diagram of a solar system coupled with an LED street luminaire (Source: LEDs Magazine webcast: Solar Powered LED Street Lighting, sponsored by ON Semiconductor4)

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http://www1.eere.energy.gov/buildings/ssl/. http://www1.eere.energy.gov/buildings/ssl/gatewaydemos.html 3 ANSI C136.40-2011. American National Standard for Roadway and Area Lighting Equipment Solar Lighting Systems. American National Standards Institute, Washington, D.C. 4 http://video.webcasts.com/events/pmny001/viewer/eFrame.jsp?mei=38885&cf=penn001&tp=

When evaluating PV lighting systems, site owners should consider system efficacy (lumens/watt), operational life, maintenance, and reliability. Benefits of Solar Powered Exterior LED Systems A PV- powered LED lighting system application provides an opportunity to save energy by using a renewable resource and more efficient technology. PV panel size and cost are directly related to power capability. As systems become more efficacious and draw less power, the panel size is reduced, making the system more cost effective and often easier to implement on limited roof areas or landscapes. Solar power systems can also provide illumination that is not powered by the grid and is therefore free from the issues of grid wiring connection. Demonstrations have shown the viability of integrating LED technology and solar power systems. In a field study conducted by Lighting Research Center (LRC), high-pressure sodium luminaires powered through the available grid were replaced with a post-top PV-powered lighting system at three sites in the Catskill Mountain region of upstate New York.1 The study predicted that these PV LED luminaires would save 6,000 kWh (6 MWh) when compared to the conventional lighting system by not requiring utility power. Occupants mostly favored the systems illumination. Installation was characterized as easy by operators and no cleaning or snow shoveling of panels was necessary. In another field study,2 LED walkway luminaires powered by PV panels were installed at the Massachusetts Maritime Academy. The luminaires, provided by Philips HADCO, were coupled with solar panels from SolarOne, as shown in Figure 2. Occupants responded positively to the LED lighting system. Solar panels were positioned in a way to shed snow and required no maintenance.

Figure 2. LED luminaires with solar panels at Massachusetts Maritime Academy6

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LRC. 2008. Demonstration and Evaluation of Lighting Technologies and Applications (DELTA) Post-Top Photovoltaic Pathway Luminaire. Lighting Research Center, Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, Troy, NY. 2 http://www.solarone.net/UserFiles/File/Case%20Studies/Hadco%20Case%20Study%20%20Mass%20Maritime%20Academy.pdf

Solar powered lighting installation is gaining interest in the industry, especially with increased government incentives. The Database of State Incentives for Renewables and Efficiency (DSIRE1) provides comprehensive information on state, local, utility, and federal incentives that promote energy efficient lighting, including LED systems. DSIRE Solar2 provides incentive information on solar energy. Challenges of Solar Powered Exterior LED Systems Solar power systems depend on the availability of sunlight and weather conditions such as storms or cloud cover can greatly reduce power capacity Positioning the solar panels to actively track sunlight is equally crucial. Weather conditions and geographic location can limit how much power can be harvested during the day and solar power systems must be designed to handle extended cloudy or dark periods if lighting is required during those periods. This typically involves careful battery capacity design or auxiliary electrical grid connection. For additional guidance, see the LRCs Lighting Answers on PV lighting.3 The systems robustness and reliability should also be considered. The Air Force prohibits solar powered exterior lighting, asserting that solar powered or combination solar and utility powered LED luminaires have unacceptable battery installation and maintenance problems.4 In the LRC study, PV bracket failure and insufficient battery voltage was noted in some cases. Inadequate battery voltage can be caused by insufficient solar collection, but careful design can prevent this. Solar system mounting should be designed to tolerate the shock and vibration that is normally encountered in roadway and area lighting applications, especially on bridges.5 The increased pole or foundation load and surface area associated with the size of solar panels must also be addressed. Cost is one of the biggest challenges with both solar powered systems and LEDs. Solar cells and panels are expensive per power capability level compared to electrical grid systems. LED lighting is also relatively expensive compared to other standard lighting technologies. However, continued improvements to both PV and LED technology can reduce the costs. The non-energy benefits associated with remote location and sustainability should also be considered and, depending on the application, may be more important than cost or energy savings alone Guidance on Using Solar Powered Exterior LED Lighting Systems in the Federal Sector The DOE Federal Energy Management Program Greening Guidebook6 recommends PV lighting be considered for remote sites not yet served by power lines, and for locations that require low levels of light and that are more than 50 feet from a power sources (e.g., signs and bus shelter lights).
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http://www.dsireusa.org/ http://www.dsireusa.org/solar/ 3 http://www.lrc.rpi.edu/programs/nlpip/lightingAnswers/photovoltaic/abstract.asp 4 http://www.wbdg.org/ccb/AF/AFETL/etl_10_18.pdf 5 DOE. 2009. Final Report Prepared in Support of the U.S. DOE Solid-State Lighting Technology Demonstration GATEWAY Program: Demonstration Assessment of Light-Emitting Diode (LED) Roadway Lighting. August 2009. Prepared by Pacific Northwest National Laboratory for the U.S. Department of Energy, Washington, D.C. Available at http://apps1.eere.energy.gov/buildings/publications/pdfs/ssl/gateway_i-35w-bridge.pdf. 6 DOE EERE. 2001. Greening Federal Facilities: An Energy, Environmental, and Economic Resource Guide for Federal Facility Managers and Designers. May 2001. U.S. Department of Energy, Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy, Washington, D.C. Available at http://www1.eere.energy.gov/femp/pdfs/29267.pdf.

In 2006, LRC provided guidance on PV lighting, including an example using LEDs,1 which provides the following site and system characteristics that will help support a successful application: Lower light levels, no more than 0.5 lux (approx. 0.05 footcandles or as LRC states, 5 moonlights), are considered appropriate for the application. The lighting system only needs to operate for a few hours (no more than 8) per night. Lighting only needs to be provided in limited areas of a site (e.g., to outline a path or pedestrian walkway). Small-scale luminaires are desirable for the application. Solar irradiance is plentiful throughout the year at the site, or the site is used only when the solar irradiance is plentiful (i.e., summer). The electric power grid is not readily accessible and/or it would be costly to bring power to the site. The luminaires can be located in an area that receives direct sunlight for a majority of daylight hours, and in which dirt is not likely to accumulate quickly on the PV panels. Financial subsidies are available through an electric utility, state energy office, or other entity, which would offset a significant portion of the capital costs for the PV lighting system. The LRC guidance states that if several of these points apply to the site under consideration, the likelihood of a successful application is greater and a lighting specifier may want to determine if a PV lighting system can meet the needs of the particular application cost effectively. PV powered lighting system holds promise for niche applications and can provide energy saving opportunities. However, careful consideration should be given to some of the challenges of the system presented in the paper.

http://www.lrc.rpi.edu/programs/nlpip/lightingAnswers/photovoltaic/17-photovoltaic-environmental.asp