Solar Lighting for Military Facilities

The U.S. Department of Defense is making innovative strides toward sustainability with its Net Zero Initiative, and solar lighting shows considerable promise in supporting this effort by addressing both environmental concerns and modern military needs. Because solar power is independent of the grid, it is entirely secure and suitable for a wide range of military applications.

Cost: For military bases, buildings, and training grounds located some distance from the grid, infrastructure costs to deliver power can be staggering, and grid-tie options can get messy, complicated, time-consuming, and expensive. Ongoing improvements to photovoltaic technology continue to make solar power more efficient and affordable — according to the Solar Energy Industries Association, the cost of investing in solar installation projects has decreased by 70% in the last 10 years alone, even as demand for solar power continues to rise.

Remote Structures & Facilities: Many training areas and armories are intentionally left separate from power grids. With solar power, it's possible to deliver adequate lighting to even the most remote areas, working completely independently from external power sources and vastly increasing the number of sites where military structures and facilities can operate effectively.

Security: Commercial-grade solar-powered security lights can be paired with motion sensors to activate instantly at the first sign of movement, supporting personnel responsible for patrolling a broad area by providing an early warning system in case of security breaches. With solar lighting, it's easy to increase visibility in vulnerable areas without the need for extensive additions to existing grid-dependent utility systems.

Energy Independence: Since solar power is off-grid and self-contained, it is invulnerable to outages or attacks on the grid. Solar-powered systems ensure military facilities remain functional when other energy resources are unavailable, helping military zones maintain energy independence and operational readiness when unforeseen circumstances occur.

Items to Consider Before Investing in Solar Power: Before specifying a system, it helps to work through a few questions with your lighting partner.

Application: What do you need to illuminate — a parking area, street, pathway, or something else? What type of light or system interests you, decorative or more utilitarian? Why light the area now, and are there any tree or structure shade obstructions that could impact solar exposure?

Project Scope & Specifications: Approximate number of lights, general budget range, installation timeline, any specific lumen or foot-candle requirements, preferred pole height, and whether you're interested in monitoring the lights.

Operating Profile: Many Greenshine systems run at full brightness for five hours at dusk, then dim to 40% power for the remainder of the night. Full brightness from dusk to dawn is also available if your site requires it.

Financing: Are you interested in rebates, or would you consider financing your purchase? Greenshine partners with Balboa Capital to offer fast, easy, and affordable equipment financing options.