Blog | How Do Solar Lights Work?

Here at Solareye, we are proud of our innovative Solareye80 solar ground lighting. The independent units provide light in towns, cities and beyond during the dark hours using renewable energy, with minimal environmental impact. When it comes to wowing customers, our Solareye80 units do all the work, but we do commonly get asked how exactly they work. It’s understandable, it all sounds a bit too good to be true – but it’s not!

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In this blog we explain exactly how solar lights work, as well as provide answers to other solar light questions you may have. Check out our 5 FAQs blog for more information.

For more detailed technical information about the Solareye80, download our technical specification >

How do solar lights work?

Solar lights are, as the name states, lighting units powered by solar energy. Using this ‘green’ energy, solar lights charge up then emit light during dark hours. The main components are usually a solar rechargeable battery, an LED light and a photoresistor (which detects the absence of light). It is the photovoltaic process that converts solar energy to usable electricity.

The process of powering solar lights is as follows:

• The “Photovoltaic” (PV) cells gather energy – during daylight hours, the units use sunlight to charge their internal batteries using a solar cell.
• The solar light turns on – most solar lights have built-in sensors to detect low light i.e. at dusk. This triggers the cell to power the battery and turn on the light.
• The solar light turns off – when light levels rise outside, like at dawn, the lights turn off.
• The solar light recharges – every day the unit charges. Charging may be less effective during days with less direct sunlight, like during winter, but high-quality units will still charge and work during darker days.

And that’s it! Once installed, solar lights can last any number of years depending on the quality and provider. No wiring or mains electricity, just simple, green energy.

See more: IP68 Certifies – What Does IP68 Mean?

Do solar lights need batteries?

No! They already contain a battery that is charged via solar power. There is no need to replace this as the battery is integral to the working of the light and should last many years depending on the manufacturer.

In our Solareye80 units, we have a long life LFP battery with an estimated life of over 8 years, so you needn’t worry for quite some time.

See more: What is Eco-Friendly Lighting? Everything You Need to Know

Do solar lights need sun or any light?

Most solar lights require solar light from daylight, not artificial light. Although artificial light might have some effect and allow for charging, the speed and effectiveness would not be as such with daylight.

Do solar lights work in winter/in the shade?

Yes – just not as effectively.

Direct solar light, like in the height of summer, is when charging of solar light units is most effective. Essentially, the more sunlight received, the longer or the stronger the light will stay illuminated. However, there is still sun in winter, albeit not always direct, which will charge solar lights. The same goes for shade; solar lights will still charge in shade, just slower.

Our Solareye80 solar ground lights have been specially designed for Northern European conditions and on a full charge (8 hours on a sunny day) will illuminate for over 200 hours, which equates to 8 full days or 2 weeks of January nights. This means performance is optimised and charge is reserved for cloudier days. Also, the working temperature spans -20°C – +70°C so there is no need to worry about working conditions.

How long do solar lights stay on for?

Most solar lights have an auto on/off detection system and will turn off when not needed during light hours. On a full charge, our solar lights can illuminate steadily for 200+ hours or 300+ hours flashing.

Where can solar lights be installed?

Solar lights can be installed practically anywhere as long as there is access to sunlight as they don’t require wiring for power; therefore, they must be outside. Solar lights are used as ground lighting, bollards, lamps, or even in roofs – perfect for outhouses and sheds.

Find out more about Solareye roof lighting or read our blog on solar roof lights.

Just to note: if installing units to vertical walls or fences, the units need to receive at least some direct sunlight for optimal performance. If unsure on the best placement, ask the manufacturer and they can advise.

See more: The Ultimate Guide to Ground Lighting

How are solar lights installed?

Depending on the application, solar light installation can vary from ground installation to roofs. As no wires or additional power is needed, solar light installation is super simple!

View our Solar Ground Light Installation Guide >

Usually, solar lights are simply fixed to a surface or slotted into a small, drilled hole. You can always install units yourself, following expert advice, or let us do it! We offer installation packages to ensure a professional service from purchase to use. Get in touch to find out more!

Are solar lights good for the environment?

Yes! For all sorts of reasons!

Solar lights use renewable energy, reduce greenhouse gas emissions, have less infrastructure requirements, are long-lasting solutions, and can even reduce light pollution with great effects on nocturnal animals. Our innovative Bat Hat solution reduces the upward spillage of light to minimise disruption to nocturnal animals such as bats in towns and cities, adding to the great benefits of our solutions!

For more Solar Light Systerminformation, please contact us. We will provide professional answers.

Quality solar lights from Solareye

Ready to begin your solar light journey? Solareye are here for you. We regularly work alongside councils, local authorities, and private clients to line cycle paths, river walks, country lanes and more. View our case studies to see our versatile units in action.

Got any questions? Get in touch and one of our friendly team will assist with your enquiry.

Solar lights absorb the sun’s energy during the day and store it in a battery that can generate light once darkness falls. Like solar panels used to generate electricity, solar lights use photovoltaic technology. They can be used for a variety of indoor and outdoor purposes, from lighting streets to illuminating homes and gardens, and are particularly useful in places and circumstances where it isn’t possible to connect to a central power grid. 

How Solar Lighting Works

Solar lights use photovoltaic (PV) cells, which absorb the sun’s energy and create an electrical charge that moves through the panel. Wires from the solar cell connect to the battery, which converts and stores the power as chemical energy until it's needed. 

The battery later uses that energy to power an LED (light-emitting diode) bulb. The diode is a semiconductor that allows electrons to pass between its two points, creating electromagnetic energy in the form of light during hours of darkness.

LED technology generates light up to 90% more efficiently than incandescent and fluorescent lighting, making it ideal for solar lighting systems. Rather than burning out like a traditional light bulb, LED bulbs simply dim over time. But their typical lifetime is far longer than a traditional bulb: tens of thousands of hours versus the 1,000 hours of an incandescent bulb, or 3,000 hours for a halogen bulb.

Types and Uses of Solar Lighting

Solar lighting sales have taken off in response to the global demand for less carbon-intensive energy sources and as a strategy for increasing energy resilience in the face of extreme weather and other natural disasters that leave centralized power systems vulnerable. It is also helping to meet the energy needs of developing regions where connection to a centralized electricity grid is difficult or impossible. 

Solar lighting provides cheap, attractive, low-maintenance illumination for homes, businesses, and public infrastructure while reducing the environmental impact. When we think about solar lighting, there are two broad categories: indoor and outdoor solar lights. Here are a few of the many solar lighting uses.

Street and Parking Lights

Investment in renewable energy, energy efficiency, and other sustainable planning approaches have led to rapid growth in solar street lighting for towns and cities.

Solar-powered lamps provide cities with a cheap way to illuminate streets, sidewalks, and parking lots, creating better safety for pedestrians and drivers alike. They typically include a lamp post and fixture powered by a small solar panel array attached to the post. This makes each lamp self-contained and able to generate carbon-free electricity without requiring connection to a central grid and has the added benefit of reducing overall installation costs.

Traffic Lights

Solar-powered traffic lights are not only economical; they can save lives during power outages and in places lacking reliable electricity sources by ensuring consistent, uninterrupted operation of traffic signals. 

Solar Sign Lights

We sometimes take for granted the illumination of billboards, street signs, and storefront signs, but proper lighting is quite important for achieving effective signage. Solar sign lights provide a way for businesses and public services to highlight essential information while saving money on electricity. They come in a variety of brightness levels depending on the needs.  

Solar Floodlights

During and after a natural disaster or other circumstances that cause power cuts, solar-powered emergency floodlights can help crews make repairs under challenging conditions without the need for generator-powered lighting system. These powerful solar lights can also be employed in home workshops, garages, yards, and businesses that need extra security or stronger illumination. Some are security lights come with timers or sensors to ward off would-be troublemakers.

Garden Lights

Solar lights have become extremely popular for use in gardens, patios, and outdoor dining venues. They provide both safety and aesthetics, and come in a wide array of styles and products. 

Lawn lights can highlight attractive garden features like flower beds, trees, or sculptures. Pool lights illuminate water elements like swimming pools, ponds, and fountains. A string of solar lights can be stretched across a patio, porch or between trees to add a touch of festive ambience. Ground lighting along a walkway, driveway, or steps improves safety and provides an attractive design element. 

Solar Candles

Suitable for both indoor and outdoor use, flameless solar-powered candles and torches are a safe alternative to a real candle. Modern designs feature realistic flickering “flames” that resemble the real thing but avoid risk of fire and spilling messy hot wax. 

Solar Desk and Table Lamps

A solar desk lamp is a great accessory for a home office. For one thing, it's cordless and thus completely portable, which makes it possible to set up a remote workstation virtually anywhere, indoors or outdoors. Designs for desk lamps range from small clip-on book lights to sleek and sturdy tabletop varieties. Table lamps, meanwhile, create ambience as they produce illumination. 

Like other types of residential solar lights, some models come with a built-in solar panel while others must be connected to an external photovoltaic panel, but neither type requires direct sunlight. The energy generated by the small PV panel gets stored in a battery, which provides several hours of light before the lamp will need a recharge. 

Environmental Benefits and Drawbacks

An investment in high-quality solar lights can provide years of virtually carbon-free lighting for homes, offices, parks, gardens, and public infrastructure. It’s a great way for an individual or community to conserve energy and reduce disruptions posed by extreme weather and climate disasters. 

For communities that lack centralized energy infrastructure, including many rural communities around the world, solar lighting makes a big contribution to energy independence. It also contributes to public safety by illuminating walkways and streets, reducing traffic accidents, and increasing personal security.

However, solar lighting, like all solar energy systems, has environmental impacts. The batteries and electronic components will eventually become waste, and that waste has hazardous ingredients that must be properly managed in order to avoid toxic pollution. Batteries can contain lead, lithium, plastics, and sulfuric acid; PV panels contain silicon, aluminum, tin, copper, cadmium, and lead; electrical components contain plastics and metals. If not disposed of properly, these substances can pollute the air, soil, and water. 

This is a particular challenge in developing countries, where waste management is more likely to be conducted without regulation to ensure safe disposal. The absence of this process can produce e-waste that poses serious threats to the environment. Some countries require or encourage end-of-life recycling of at least some of these products.

Today, there are calls to strengthen such practices and ensure that solar projects everywhere support safe disposal and recycling of solar materials once the components have reached the end of their productive use. Of course, this is important not only for solar but traditional lighting. 

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