Solar street lights were originally developed for use unelectrified rural areas. Larger lighting units are required in cities, but they would consume more power and hence may not be viable for operation with solar power. Nevertheless, solar street lights or outdoor lights fitted with 11 watt or 18 watt energy efficient lamps (CFLs) may be suitable for outlying areas, until roads, boundaries of institutions, hospitals and industrial units, residential colonies etc. which do not require high intensity lighting. These systems-can also be installed on main roads, at selected locations, to ensure minimum lighting in case of any exigency such as power cuts, to avoid any security threat to the public. They can also be used will help to conserve electricity during the evening peaks

Street light are a major consumer of energy in cities and the expenditure on them is usually borne by the municipal corporations. A typical city has thousands of street lights connected in blocks ranging between 50 to 200 light points. The lights are switched on and off either manually or through mechanical times. In both cases, they are often switched on before they are actually needed or switched off well after dawn. This leads to avoidable waste of energy. A solar based dusk-to-dawn automatic switching system ensures that street lights come on at the right time and go off when not needed. A typical system having an average load of 30KWW, can save around 900 units of electricity per month.

Large advertising hoardings are a common sight in many cities. These hoardings are illuminated throughout the night by high intensity lamps. Most hoardings employ 4 to 12 lamps and consume a vast amount of energy. This power, if saved, can be used to light up small towns and villages which often remain without lights, especially during the peak hours of 6 pm . To 10 pm . It is technically possible to provide solar power system may be able to meet this requirement. As per a recent Order of Maharashtra Electricity Regulatory Commission, conventional neon signs, illuminated hoarding, flood lights have been banned in Mumbai between 5 pm and 11pm in order to save energy.

Frequent break downs in power supply lead to failure of conventional traffic lights in cities and consequent chaos in the flow of traffic. This problem can be solved by changing over to completely solar powered traffic lights or using solar hybrid systems with conventional power. Solar powered traffic employ energy efficient light emitting diodes (LEDs) which consume very nominal energy and thus could be installed at a reasonable cost. Some space is needed to place the modules and the batteries.

Solar road studs are unique, innovative and state-or-the art road safety devices for nighttime drivers. The solar road studs, powered by energy from the Sun, provide clear visible traffic guidance round the year irrespective of the weather conditions. These studs function automatically from dusk-to-dawn. They could be deployed on roads, zebra crossings, speed breakers, etc.

LED based SPV traffic blinkers have advantages in terms of reliability and longer life in comparison with the traditional devices. Apart from the reliable power back-up of SPV, the advantages of using devices, besides the exceptional lighting efficiency, are their particular radiation angle which allows concentration of the light in very tight angle and permits visibility even from a long distance, as also in bad weather conditions. The electronic controllers allow constant current supply to the LED together with light control. Solar blinkers could be useful at blind intersections, a head of road humps, sharp bends / U-turns, pedestrian crossings, etc.

Building integrated Photovoltaic (BiPV), systems can be used in urban areas. The SPV modules are installed in place of the roof or wall paneling in buildings. BiPV systems export the excess power which is not utilized in the building to the grid. They also serve the purpose of peak load shaving in peak hours.

These systems can effectively replace small generators small generators based on Kerosene and petrol. Such generators cause pollution, noise and lead to increased dependence on oil imports. The solar power packs installed in shops, clinics, banks, etc. Could provide power for lights, fans, computers, etc, or other emergency requirements.

The proposals will be submitted to MNRE in the prescribed format by the concerned implementing agencies, subject to the total number for each type of system given. 25% of the CFA will be release in advance alongwith the sanction. 50% will be released on supply of equipment, with the procurement being made on competitive tendering on supply of equipment, with the procurement and adjustment, if any, in the total cost will be made at this stage with the CFA being restricted to the benchmark cost for each item. The balance 25% will be released on installation and commissioning of the systems including performance as per DPR/proposal details.