Modeling and Optimization of Off-Grid solar street lighting system

Abstract

Off-grid solar street lighting presents an opportunity to illuminate specific sections of areas and roads which are not served by the electricity grid. Proper sizing of components may lead to decreasing capital cost as well as ensuring quality and continuity of supply. Optimized sizing depends on accurate modeling and simulation of both daily and annual output performance. To this end a new model was developed to optimize the sizing of the photovoltaic module and battery, and the lighting controller strategy, to improve the performance and utilization of the system, for a range of climatic conditions. Comparing simulation and experimental results for average of columbic charge and discharge shows 5 % and 2 % error respectively. According to simulation model, estimated number of failures for installed solar street light with 540 W photovoltaic panel, 375 Ah battery capacity and 55 W lamp in Halifax is 49 nights over the year.