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  3. Lighting scenario : How can you be sure that solar street lights turn on at the right time?

Lighting scenario : How can you be sure that solar street lights turn on at the right time?

18/09/2025

The functioning of our solar streetlights is closely linked to sunrise and sunset; the lamppost switches on when the solar panel no longer receives light. However, the start and end of night-time are constantly changing, not to mention the two time changes that occur in Europe and in certain parts of the globe. In this case, In this case, how can we ensure that the light works all year round according to a lighting scenario adapted to the required use?

Luminaire public solaire allumé au crépuscule, équipé d’un panneau photovoltaïque en haut du mât, avec un ciel coloré en arrière-plan et des habitations entourées de végétation.

 

2 types of lighting programming possible

For all its products, Novéa Energies offers optimised lighting management tailored to the needs of customers and users by integrating a customised programming label with energy consumption in line with the proposed model and its area of installation.

Novéa offers 2 lighting programming options: Timing programming and Time-based programming.

Timing programming defines when the light is switched on, off or put into standby mode based on a predefined lighting duration depending on dusk and/or dawn.

Example with the chronogram below: the streetlight is lit at 100% for 2h hours after dusk and 1,5 hours before dawn, without taking into account a specific time.

Chronogram explaining temporary programming: the street lamp lights up at 100% for 2 hours after dusk, then switches off completely before switching back on 1 hour 30 minutes before dawn.

The timing programme depends on variations in the length of the night, and in particular on the time of the middle of the night throughout the year. This intermediate period will evolve with the seasons, particularly in geographical areas far from the equator, where nights are shorter in summer and longer in winter.

Example with this programming:

A Combi Top installed in the Nantes region, is programmed to switch on during 3 hours after dusk, then switch off completely and then switch back on 2 hours before dawn.

In winter, with dusk at 5pm and dawn at 8.30 am (approximately): The streetlight will switch off at around 8pm and switch back on at 6.30 am. In summer, however, dusk begins at 10.30 pm and dawn at 6.30: so the streetlight will switch off at 1am and will start again at 4.30 am.

Lighting scenario: Chronogram illustrating the following lighting programme: to switch on for 3 hours after dusk, switch off completely after 3 hours, then switch back on 2 hours before dawn. Chronogram illustrating the following lighting schedule: for 3 hours after dusk, switch off completely after 3 hours, then switch back on 2 hours before dawn.
Lighting scenario in December
Lighting scenario in June

The lighting will therefore fluctuate depending on the seasons, which might cause programming the its not suited to users’ expectations.

Time-base programming, will turn the lights on and off according to a set schedule, regardless of the time of the year or the length of the night.

Unlike the programmable timers used in grid public lighting, the NOVEA autonomous system doesn’t know the time and the date of the day. The algorithm will then rely on two settings, identified according to the location of the solar streetlight and data from the previous nights recorded by the system:

  • The length of the night
  • The mid-point of the night

The time of the mid-point of the night point will vary depending on the location and the season. This is why the algorithm and settings developed by Novéa Energies ensure that the products switch on and off with an accuracy of 15 minutes throughout the year.

Example with this programming: the street lamp is programmed to switch off completely at 9 p.m. and then switch back on at 7 a.m. In winter, when dusk begins at 5 p.m. and dawn at 8:30 a.m, the street lamp will be able to apply the programme defined by the system. In summer, however, with night falling at 10.30pm and dawn at 6:30 a.m., the street lamp will remain off throughout night as dusk falls after 9 p.m. and dawn before 7 a.m.

Chronogram illustrating the following schedule: lights on from dusk until 9 p.m., lights off between 9 p.m. and 7 a.m., then lights on again from 7 a.m. until dawn.

Good to know !💡
The clock is created thanks to an algorithm integrated to our NOVEMS electronic card and therefore does not consume any additional electricity : the energy produced by the solar panel during the day and stored in the battery is used only for lighting

Regardless of the type of programming chosen, it is important to properly size the programme according to its use and to take into account the variations and precision of the system. Our specialised design office will assist you in defining your requirements in order to offer you the best technical solution for your project.

How do the solar street lights adapt to time changes ?

Although our streetlights are designed to adapt to different night length during the year, they also have to meet the needs and external characteristics inherent to human activity, such as the time change applied in Europe and some other countries around the world.

The time-based programming enables time change constraints to be taken into account. As mentioned above, the clock integrated into the electronic card placed in the NOVBOX of each street light analyses the behaviour of the previous nights to determine, based on pre-recorded data, whether the nights are getting longer (from June 21st to December 21st) or shorter (from December 21st to June 21st). The clock applies its shift when it detects a night-time duration equivalent to the change threshold determined for the time change.

The time change may be applied before or after the official time change date, as it depends on the length of the night. Unlike a conventional programmable clock, the system requires approximately one week to adjust.

To go further, discover Novéa Energies’ expertise.

 

 

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