solar street light
If solar power is better than electric why aren’t street lights solar powered?
When there is a power outage solar powered street lights would be more senseable to have enabling us to still be able to see the street and eventually save money. And help prevent looting.
Currently solar panels are only 30% efficient; they don’t work very well so they aren’t used very often. Most street lights are lit with electricity from the electric grid so they will be still lit even if the sun isn’t out for a few days.
However, I have seen traffic warning signs like “School Crossing” that have a solar panel on them. I have also seen signs that have to be lit out in the middle of nowhere with a solar panel on them to charge them up. So it is done, it just isn’t done very often.
Scientists are trying to increase the efficiency of solar panels to 40% at that point they start to become economical to use. Currently most solar powered panels actually use heat from the sun to heat water. This is one way to replace your large water heater with a smaller less energy using one. Also some houses in the right areas, which get enough sunlight and have the right southern exposure, use solar panels to provide hot water to heat the building.
Solar panels are not always something that transforms sunlight to electricity. Sometimes they are just panels with water inside.
You can’t trust the sun to power street lights, the solar cells are not powerful enough or efficient enough, the battery technology we have isn’t up to the job either. It is best to connect street lights to the main electric grid and that will be true for some time to come.
Your suggestion is a vaild one and has been looked at, but it can’t work yet. However, there are some situations where a solar cell can be used to power street signs.
SOLAR STREET LIGHTING VIDEO by Solar streetscapes
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