Energy-efficient solar-powered outdoor lighting

Abstract

One or more outdoor lights may operate independently with sensing and control processes mainly on-pole, or may communicate as a networked array of poles, wherein a master/coordinating pole/node transmits signals from the networked array to a control station, and receive signals from the control station for the networked array, via call phone and/or satellite. Independent poles and/or the networked array of poles may be adapted for energy-saving processes; cooperation with the grid; renewable power production and storage by means of solar panels and associated batteries; and/or to provide Wi-Fi hot-spots, public safety alarms, information or data-analysis to the public or customers. An energy-saving active control system controls charging of the batteries and distribution of energy from the solar panel and/or the batteries, so that the batteries remain undamaged, and the light(s) remain operation even during the winter or other long periods of clouds and diffuse light. The active control of energy distribution by a load controller function may include dimming during the night, except when sensors detect motion, and, in extreme cloudy or diffuse-light periods, increasing increments of dimming and/or load shedding, to preserve the batteries and operability.

1 . A solar-powered outdoor lighting system comprising:
 an outdoor pole having a generally-cylindrical side surface;   a flexible photovoltaic solar collector panel connected to the pole side surface so that the solar collector panel is generally vertical and is curved at least 180 degrees around the pole side surface, to receive solar insolation throughout the day, including morning, mid-day, and evening solar insolation;   a luminaire connected to the pole;   at least one energy storage device operatively connected to the solar collector panel and the luminaire;   at least one controller adapted to charge said at least one energy storage device, and to manage energy delivery to said luminaire.   
     
     
         2 . A lighting system as in  claim 1 , further comprising a grid-tie comprising an inverter, the grid-tie electrically operatively connecting the photovoltaic solar panel to an electrical utility grid to provide energy to the grid during peak electrical energy-usage hours, and to provide energy from the grid to the lighting system during night-time or winter months to power the luminaire. 
     
     
         3 . A lighting system as in  claim 1 , further comprising a grid-tie comprising an inverter, the grid-tie electrically connecting the at least one energy storage device to an electrical utility grid to provide energy from the at least one energy storage device to the utility grid during peak electrical energy-usage hours, and to provide energy from the utility grid to the at least one energy storage device during night-time or winter months to power the luminaire. 
     
     
         4 . A lighting system as in  claim 2 , further comprising measurement systems adapted to measure and record energy contribution of the lighting system to the utility grid and energy contribution of the utility grid to the lighting system. 
     
     
         5 . A lighting system as in  claim 3 , further comprising measurement systems adapted to measure and record energy contribution of the lighting system to the utility grid and energy contribution of the utility grid to the lighting system. 
     
     
         6 . A lighting system as in  claim 1 , further comprising at least one peripheral device mounted on said outdoor pole, the at least one peripheral device being powered by said solar collector panel or said at least one energy storage device and selected from the group consisting of: wireless radio, video camera, security camera, pan-tilt camera, security gate motor, Wi-FI hotspot, emergency call box, and public alarm. 
     
     
         7 . A lighting system as in  claim 6 , wherein said at least one controller is adapted to shed loads by turning off one or more of said at least one peripheral device or said luminaire to conserve energy. 
     
     
         8 . A lighting system as in  claim 1 , wherein the pole is an existing pole previously installed in an outdoor setting, and the solar collector panel is provided as a portion of a retrofit collar that is added to the pole by connecting the retrofit collar to said side surface. 
     
     
         9 . A lighting system as in  claim 8 , wherein said photovoltaic solar panel curves on the retrofit collar at least 180 degrees to extend around the existing pole at least 180 degrees. 
     
     
         10 . A solar-powered outdoor utility system comprising:
 an existing utility pole installed in an outdoor setting and having a generally-cylindrical side surface, wherein the utility pole supports at least one utility device that is electrically-powered and operatively connected to a utility power grid, and wherein said at least one utility device is selected from a group consisting of a luminaire, wireless radio, video camera, security camera, pan-tilt camera, security gate motor, Wi-FI hotspot, emergency call box, and public alarm;   a retrofit collar comprising a photovoltaic solar panel, the collar being installed on said existing utility pole side surface so that the solar panel is generally vertical and is curved at least part way around the pole side surface to receive solar insolation throughout the day, including morning, mid-day, and evening solar insolation;   wherein the photovoltaic solar panel of the retrofit collar is operatively connected to the at least one utility device and to the utility power grid, and the system further comprises at least one controller and an inverter and is adapted to power said at least one utility device with energy from the solar panel during at least some hours and to provide energy from the solar panel to the utility power grid during at least some hours.   
     
     
         11 . A utility system as in  claim 10 , wherein said photovoltaic solar panel curves on the retrofit collar to at least 180 degrees to extend around the existing utility pole at least 180 degrees. 
     
     
         12 . A utility system as in  claim 10 , further comprising at least one energy storage device adapted to store energy from the solar panel, wherein said at least one controller is adapted to send energy from said at least one energy storage device to said at least one utility device. 
     
     
         13 . A utility system as in  claim 12 , wherein said at least one controller is adapted to also send energy from said at least one energy storage device to said utility power grid. 
     
     
         14 . A utility system as in  claim 10 , further comprising at least one energy storage device adapted to store energy from the solar panel, wherein said at least one controller is adapted to send energy from said at least one energy storage device to said utility power grid. 
     
     
         15 . A utility system as in  claim 10 , wherein the retrofit collar is selected from a group consisting of a flexible structure, a semi-rigid structure, or a rigid structure. 
     
     
         16 . A method of adapting an existing utility pole to be powered at least in part by solar power, the method comprising:
 installing a retrofit collar comprising a photovoltaic solar panel onto a generally vertical, generally-cylindrical, side surface of an existing utility pole that is located in an outdoor setting, so that the solar panel is generally vertical and is curved at least part way around the pole side surface to receive solar insolation throughout the day, including morning, mid-day, and evening solar insolation;   wherein the utility pole supports at least one utility device that is electrically-powered and operatively connected to a utility power grid, and said at least one utility device is selected from a group consisting of a luminaire, wireless radio, video camera, security camera, pan-tilt camera, security gate motor, Wi-FI hotspot, emergency call box, and public alarm;   operatively connecting the photovoltaic solar panel of the retrofit collar to the at least one utility device and to the utility power grid by means of at least one controller and an inverter; and   powering said at least one utility device with energy from the solar panel during at least some hours and providing energy from the solar panel to the utility power grid during at least some hours.   
     
     
         17 . A method as in  claim 16 , wherein said installing a retrofit collar comprises mounting the retrofit collar on the pole with the photovoltaic solar panel facing south in the northern hemisphere. 
     
     
         18 . A method as in  claim 16 , wherein said photovoltaic solar panel curves on the retrofit collar at least 180 degrees to extend around the existing utility pole at least 180 degrees.