Solwezi streetlights installation in progress

The Installation of 85 All-in-One Integrated Solar Streetlights along the Kyankwankwa Drive from Atlasmara Bank junction to Kapiji Mall and Old Shoprite Roads in Solwezi district has commenced with 30 mounted so far.

At the end of the project, Tarcisia to Coppers Corner and Zambezi Station roads will also have streetlights installed.

Recent technological innovations paved the way to the rebirth of street lights through solar powered ones.

Solar street lights are raised outdoor light sources, which are powered by PV (photovoltaic) panels.

These panels are mounted on the lighting structure or connected in the pole. PV panels have a rechargeable battery, providing power to the fluorescent or LED lamp during the entire night.

Solar street lights are independent of the utility grid resulting to lessened operation costs.

The lights are dependent of the heat energy given off by the sun, storing as much of it throughout the day.

Some parts of solar street lighting systems can be easily carried to remote areas making these more efficient and handy solutions to lighting problems.

On the other hand, if there are advantages, solar street lights also have a number of disadvantages, it also pays to make you aware of these few advantages.

Solar street lights require higher initial investment compared to conventional street lights, this is actually the main reason why most people are having second thoughts about switching to solar street lights.

This is why solar street lights need to be checked once in a while especially when placed on areas with extreme weather conditions, which can damage or shorten the life cycle of it.

In July 2022, My Home Town Founder, James Ndambo officially commissioned the street lights on a stretch from Shampande to Choma Secondary School through his Mambushi farms in Choma district of Southern Province.

The installation of street lights was aimed at promoting security in the area.

However, a good number of traffic signals in Lusaka have also been developed by government and still more have been planned under the inner ring road project.

Consequently, most of the work on street lighting has been done by Lusaka City Council.

The project is cardinal in making the streets safer at night and save lives by preventing road traffic accidents.

Zambian Eye, 17th November, 2022.