Photovoltaic Lighting Systems - A Decision Maker's Guide

James Dunlop
Florida Solar Energy Center (FSEC)

FSEC-RR-54-98

This document provides general considerations for evaluating the feasibility of photovoltaic (PV) lighting
applications. These considerations include assessing lighting requirements, understanding site
conditions and investigating alternative lighting and power source options. These guidelines are intended
to help prospective buyers of PV lighting equipment evaluate applications, as well as helping those
supplying systems and equipment identify potential markets for their products. Also covered in this
document is an overview of popular PV lighting system applications, including area and sign lighting,
signal and warning systems, consumer lighting devices and solar home lighting systems.

This document is one of four topical reports on stand-alone photovoltaic (PV) lighting systems. The
information is based on current state-of-the-art understanding, and is intended for those individuals and
organizations evaluating the potential of using PV systems for a number of lighting applications. These
documents may also be useful to PV lighting system suppliers, by helping educate prospective customers
in the process of identifying and implementing practical and cost-effective PV lighting solutions.
Principal target groups for this document include:

• Federal, state and local government agencies
• Transportation and navigational authorities
  
• Planners, developers and builders
  
• Electric utilities
  
• Consumers and homeowners
  
• Emergency management officials
  
• Development and conservation organizations
  
• PV lighting system manufacturers and suppliers

The information presented in this set of topical reports provides an overview of PV lighting systems from a
technical perspective. The content covers considerations for evaluating the feasibility of PV lighting
applications, PV lighting components and system design, developing technical project specifications, and
fundamentals of lighting design and lighting equipment. At the end of each report, sources for PV lighting
equipment and a reference list are provided.

The four documents in this set of topical reports (which are available in PDF) are:

Volume 1: Photovoltaic Lighting Applications
Volume 2: PV Lighting Components and System Design
Volume 3: Technical Specifications and Case Studies
Volume 4: Lighting Fundamentals and Equipment