Compare the total cost of solar-powered lighting vs grid-connected lighting. Solar often wins when trenching costs are included – this calculator shows the real numbers.
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Solar powered lights are attractive where it is expensive to bring power to the site. A grid connected light needs trenching, cable, conduit, and often a utility connection, which can cost more than the fixture itself, and the electricity bill continues for the life of the system. A solar light has a panel, a battery, and a controller on the pole and needs no trenching or wiring.
The calculator compares the total cost of each option, including installation, and shows when the solar option pays off. Solar usually wins in remote parking lots, paths, and signs, where long trenches are needed, and grid power often wins where cables are short and power is already near.
Look at the details that affect solar performance. The amount of winter sun, shading, and the number of days of backup the battery provides all determine how reliable the light will be, and batteries need to be replaced after several years. Add maintenance and any available incentives to the comparison, and size the system for the worst season, not the average one.