What are the Current Classifications of Photovoltaic Lighting?

Photovoltaic lighting, simply put, can be understood as solar lights. It is a small energy lighting system composed of solar panels, batteries, LED light sources, controllers, and structural components,realizing photovoltaic charging during the day and power supply at night. It can be widely used in different scenarios. Especially with the upgrading of power generation technology, the global advocacy of energy conservation and emission reduction, and the support for clean new energy and smart city development, the application scope of photovoltaic lighting is still continuously expanding.

There are many types of photovoltaic lighting. This article will classify them from three dimensions: application scenarios, structural forms, and power supply methods. Combined with relatively familiar names and content, it will help everyone gain an in-depth understanding of photovoltaic lighting, so as to choose suitable products.

Whether you're planning a rural road project, a commercial parking lot, or a residential landscape, understanding these classifications will help you make the right procurement decision.

Classification by Application Scenario

The common application scenarios of photovoltaic lighting include several major categories, such as road lighting, courtyard lighting, landscape lighting, decorative lighting, and traffic lighting. These are also the solar lights we are relatively familiar with and commonly see.

Solar street lights are currently the most widely used category in photovoltaic lighting. They are mainly used in urban roads, township roads, highways, parks, parking lots, expressways, and other scenarios, and are the most important outdoor lighting products.

Solar courtyard lights and landscape lights have a certain decorative function. During design, it is necessary to consider integration with the environment. They are commonly seen in residential communities, parks, villa courtyards, scenic areas, and other scenarios.

Solar floodlights and area lights have a large illumination range and flexible installation, making them suitable for large-area lighting zones. They are commonly used in industrial parks and parking lots and are highly practical.

Solar wall lights, pillar lights, lawn lights, buried lights, and light strips have relatively small lamp bodies and low power. They are used for lighting and decoration and can be applied to various exterior walls, gardens, lawns, and other scenarios.

Solar emergency lights and portable lights are also small in size, easy to carry and move, and are used in temporary use scenarios, such as camping and power outages.

Solar signal lights can sometimes be seen at intersections or on highways.

Classification by Structural Form

Mainstream styles can be divided into the following four categories:

All in one solar street lights （View ST2 Series Details）are what we often refer to as lights that integrate solar photovoltaic panels, LED lamp heads, batteries, and controllers into one lamp body. With an integrated design, they form an independent lighting system, do not require wiring or trenching, are simple and fast to install, and are easy to maintain. They are very suitable for scenarios such aslow-latitude countries, applicable to various scenarios including roads, tourist attractions, parks, squares and residential communities.

Split type solar street lights （View details of the split type solar street lights product series）are the opposite of all-in-one solar street lights. Each module is independent and flexible, and they are installed separately. The solar photovoltaic panel can adjust its direction, and professional personnel are required for installation. They are suitable for urban narrow lanes, rural roads, parks, gardens, communities, and other scenarios.

Integrated solar street lights（View details of the integrated solar street lights product series）, also known as all-in-two solar street lights, are between all-in-one solar street lights and split type solar street lights. The battery and lamp head are integrated together, while the solar photovoltaic panel can be separated, making installation convenient while also allowing flexible angle adjustment. They are almost suitable for any scenario. Among china solar street light manufacturers of this type of product, RoadSmart Solar Street Light is the company with the most complete product series.

Solar pole street light （View details of the solar pole street light product series）models combine the solar panel, battery, and controller with the lamp pole, and then separately configure the lamp head. The overall appearance is more concise and less prone to dust accumulation. They are suitable for municipal street light renovation or areas with heavy wind and sand.

Classification by Power Supply Method

There are mainly two categories: off-grid type and solar-grid hybrid type.

Off-grid solar lights, as the name suggests, off grid solar system design rely entirely on solar power supply, do not need to be connected to municipal electricity, and achieve independent operation. They have low installation costs and are suitable for villages, mountainous areas, wilderness areas, and other regions without power grid coverage.

Solar-grid hybrid solar lights mainly use solar power supply and automatically switch to municipal electricity when sunlight is insufficient, ensuring all-weather stable lighting. They are suitable for urban main roads and scenarios that require lighting stability.

In addition to the above three main types, photovoltaic lighting can also be classified according to intelligent control. Generally, there are basic, sensor-based, and smart solar lights. Different types of photovoltaic lighting products can be selected according to specific project needs and application scenarios. Photovoltaic lighting is still continuously innovating and developing, and new products may appear in the future. At that time, they will be updated one by one to improve different product classifications and provide everyone with useful selection guidance.

Summarize

Off-grid type: Medium to high initial equipment cost, low installation cost, zero electricity cost, and low 10-year TCO.

Hybrid type: High initial equipment cost, requires grid connection, low electricity cost but has backup costs; suitable for scenarios with extremely high stability requirements.

Frequently Asked Questions

Q: Which is more suitable for highways: integrated solar streetlights or split-type solar streetlights?

A: Integrated solar streetlights or All-in-Two solar streetlights are recommended for highways because they require higher brightness and flexible panel angle adjustment.

Q: How many days can off-grid solar lights stay on during consecutive cloudy or rainy days?

A: RoadSmart products support 5-7 days of operation during cloudy or rainy days.

Q: Can photovoltaic lighting be customized (logo, color, parameters)?

A: Yes. RoadSmart provides OEM/ODM services, including customization of appearance, parameters, and structure. The MOQ starts from 20 sets. Please contact us for details.

Q: How do I determine the required power of a solar streetlight?

A: It depends on the road width, pole height, and required illuminance. RoadSmart provides free DIALux simulation for accurate calculation.