Grid-free solar streetlights light up Darlington Point

Leadsun Australia is helping one of the smallest local government organisations in Australia take control of its energy infrastructure from the ground up.

Murrumbidgee Council in the Riverina region of NSW is said to be one of the first councils to independently install off-the-grid public solar street lighting, as part of a new residential development at Darlington Point.

Leadsun’s Lachlan Bruce said it’s exciting to see Murrumbidgee Council take the leap and control its energy assets from installation through to day-to-day operations.

“They wanted a modern, grid-free street lighting solution that was economical, environmentally friendly and engineered to improve safety for residents,” Bruce said.

Leadsun has designed and patented an all-in-one SMART solar light that combines LED, lithium batteries and wireless technology — enabling the lights to store power for days, be remote-controlled, and be monitored from anywhere in the world, with motion sensors so they light up when someone walks by.

Leadsun Australia workers installing grid-free solar streetlights at Darlington Point.

“In the past 16 years, we have installed more than 350,000 solar street lights in Australia and the US, with the lights so robust they can withstand hurricane-strength winds,” Bruce said. “Since September 2022, Leadsun solar lights have been installed in America’s first ‘connected city’ in Florida and shone bright in neighbourhoods darkened by Hurricane Ian’s category-four winds. Over 10,000 have been installed there to date.

“With 39 streetlights powered by the Sun, this project may be small, but it represents a big shift in how councils operate their energy assets.”

The Mayor of Murrumbidgee Council, Ruth McRae OAM, said the council is pleased to embrace this new concept, with solar-powered streetlights installed throughout the new River Red Gum Estate housing division.

McRae said the solar-powered lighting system is a prime example of how we can reduce our reliance on traditional energy sources. With integrated battery systems, the lights continue to operate even during power outages, providing constant lighting and security for residents.

“By adopting this new technology, we are moving forward in our ongoing commitment to create a more sustainable and connected community. Not only do these lights utilise renewable solar energy, but their design eliminates the need for traditional in-ground cabling, which reduces both installation costs and environmental impact,” Cr McRae said. “Additionally, the built-in motion sensors allow the lights to adjust intelligently to movement, optimising energy use while maintaining safety and visibility for the estate.”

Top image caption: Leadsun Australia grid-free solar streetlights at Darlington Point.