Kenya rolls out solar street lighting

By CARSIFU | 11 April 2012
NAIROBI: Kenya's largest alternative energy supplier, Davis & Shirtliff, has rolled out solar street lighting in the country in a move which will slash the costs of street lighting while reducing night-time risks for pedestrians and drivers.



The company's first solar street lighting has been installed around Tusky's Mall in the Indian Ocean port city of Mombasa and in a gated community in Karen, Nairobi, eliminating all electricity charges.



The introduction of the technology, which is set to make street lighting accessible to many more communities, comes against the backdrop of international studies showing that street lighting cuts deaths and accidents on roads by 40% or more.



Speaking Tuesday during the launch of new daylight solar street lights at the Karen shopping centre here, Davis & Shirtliff deputy chief executive officer David Gatende said: "Our new Dayliff solar street lights are tailor-made for freeways, municipal and private estates, where reliable night time lighting is essential for vision and security, and they also offer a meaningful solution to daily power problems in Kenya."



Gatende said the integrated street light package consisted of a high performance LED lamp unit providing a 40-watt output and 2,400 lumens of illumination. The unit comes with a digital micro-controller that provides automatic regulation of battery charging and load control.



The lamp automatically switches on and off at dusk and dawn and even offers customised programmes, such as shutdown in the middle of the night. Each lamp unit can also be manually adjusted. LED indicators show operating status.



The Dayliff solar lights last for an average 50,000 hours and the solar battery for an average six years. The lights can also be used in factory yards, as residential outdoor lighting, in car parks and school compounds.