Abstract
Sustainability, quest for greener environment and energy/cost savings are some of the driving forces for the global push in utilizing renewable energy resources for powering street lights especially those located in densely populated areas. Photo-voltaic and LED technologies are considered by many as a match made in heaven as they are essential if not mandatory for achieving these goals. For 11 years (between 2007 and 2018), there has been a significant effort by Sokoto State Government to light up streets in the central part of the city using these two technologies. Using a descriptive approach, the paper established the status, challenges and opportunities associated with solar powered Light Emitting Diode (LED) street lights in Sokoto over the 11 years period. Out of 450 installed units in the city, only 25% are functional at present. The number is also gradually diminishing. The technological, social and institutional challenges associated with managing LED street light devices in the city were equally discussed. Promises of the technology, climatic conditions of the city and current push for metropolitan security are among the potential drivers for continuous implementation of the technology in the city. However, while the available solar power in the city serves as a driving force, its association with higher temperatures makes equipment maintenance difficult thereby undermining sustainability.
Highlights
Street lighting or sometimes referred to as “roadway lighting” is an important safety component for streets and highways
It is obvious that the government is interested in the implementation of PV and Light Emitting Diode (LED) for street lighting due to the benefits associated with these technologies
In order to reap out these benefits, responsible institutions should establish a routine maintenance exercises for these projects ranging from cleaning the dust on the panels, checking the specific gravity of the batteries and the performance of charge controllers
Summary
Street lighting or sometimes referred to as “roadway lighting” is an important safety component for streets and highways. Street lights can help identify a walk-way from a car zone or help drivers see their surroundings clearly (Goodwin, 2013). Street lighting can help communities create a safer environment for residents to live, play and travel (Harris, 2008; McMorran et al, 2016). Exploring the opportunities and the contextual challenges of implementing such projects will add perspectives in the development of sustainable practices for the provision of efficient and effective urban services. This is the specific focus of this paper using Sokoto city as a case study
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