Techno-Economical Evaluation of Photovoltaic-Powered Street Lighting Systems

The motivation for the transition towards renewable energy sources is driven by environmental pollution resulting from fossil fuel electricity generation. Photovoltaic (PV) technology is considered a promising means of electricity generation for various sectors, including street lighting systems. This paper presents an economic and technical assessment of PV-powered street lighting systems and traditional street lighting systems connected to the main grid. The economic assessment incorporates cost comparisons using the annual equivalent method, a well-established approach for project feasibility assessment. The technical assessment focuses on potential technical challenges and barriers to new project implementation. Overall, the analysis covers various aspects such as performance, reliability, and cost-effectiveness of PV-powered and traditional street lighting systems. A case study of PV-powered and traditional street lighting systems in Latakia, Syria is utilized for this assessment. The results reveal that PV-powered street lighting systems, utilizing LED lamps, offer approximately 43.65% lower annual equivalent cost compared to traditional street lighting systems using mercury vapor lamps. The results also demonstrate a rapid payback of the initial investment, emphasizing the importance of adopting PV lighting for urban streets.