Street lighting assets around the world are being transformed with smart technologies to deliver increased safety, efficiency, productivity, and services. Leadsun’s FREEDOM urban solar lights are an integral part of this transformation.
Until now, our cities have relied on 19th-century grid-powered lighting systems. These have inflexible positioning and are costly to install due to extensive trenching and cabling, plus unpredictable, ongoing energy costs.
Leadusn’s Managing Director Matt Pollard recently had a chat with Ticker News about the environmental benefits that these street lights provide and how they are making a positive impact on the environments they illuminate.
This next-generation street lighting platform is supplied SMART CITY READY with remote monitoring and endless possibilities to connect IOT devices such as air quality sensors, pedestrian and vehicle counters, cameras, duress-button, Wi-Fi access points, and more.
These stylish, future-proofed lighting solutions are perfect for lighting streets, footpaths, parks, recreational areas, green space, car parks, and public venues.
In 2018, Leadsun formed a landmark partnership with a leading USA property developer who has successfully installed over 1,000 wireless controlled and monitored FREEDOM solar streetlights throughout two Master Planned Communities in Florida, with many more to be installed in the coming years.
The future of street lighting has now arrived! Leadsun is excited to finally announce the launch of our FREEDOM series, which is a SMART urban solar lighting solution designed for communities of the 21st century.
After more than three years of development in Melbourne, Leadsun has partnered with a leading developer of Master-planned communities in Florida, USA. Leadsun’s FREEDOM solar lights were chosen to help transform their new residential developments into the world’s smartest and most modern residential communities. So far, over 1000 lights have been successfully installed with a further 10,000 solar street lights locked-in to be deployed over the next few years.
Now is the time for progressive Australian residential property developers to utilise this new grid-free street lighting technology that has full wireless connectivity capabilities, DARK SKY compliance, and is future-proofed to power smart city devices like CCTV, public Wi-Fi access points, and more.
Leadsun was invited to partner with City of Melbourne’s Industrial Design Team to create a modern, innovative and sustainable outdoor sculpture by converging Leadsun’s proprietary ‘All-In-One’ Solar + Battery + LED technologies into a spectacular tree-like sculpture that also demonstrates that we can power and light out cities with solar energy.
The Solar Tree is a big idea by Leadsun to help demonstrate City of Melbourne’s ambitious target to become carbon neutral.
The tree provides the community with a place to rest, recharge their mobile devices whilst promoting a positive social impact ensuring our public spaces are Smarter, Sustainable and Safer by harnessing the sun’s energy in a practical and functional way.
Did you know that although cities only cover 2% of earth’s landmass, they use nearly 80% of earth’s primary energy sources? Further to this, the biggest contributor to a municipality’s source of carbon emissions is from grid-connected public lighting infrastructure.
While our cities transition to renewable energy to replace existing fossil fuel electricity, the Solar Tree demonstrates the importance that collectively we must take simple steps to reduce our energy usage, not just in our homes and businesses but also in open public areas that require public lighting.
Honouring indigenous natural heritage
The Solar Tree isn’t just about technology, it’s also about sustainability and honouring the traditional and distinct nature of our municipality’s natural heritage by using reclaimed indigenous timber for the circular wooden seat located at its trunk.
The indigenous timber is selected by the local government and then hand-crafted and treated to look vibrant and elegant. It’s an important design element of the Solar Tree as it brings together both ‘nature & technology’ and the ‘past & the future’ all into one unique functional system.
Convenient meeting hub
The Solar Tree is a great landmark and place to meet. With the timber seat able to accommodate three people, the Solar Tree has a convenient three-way built-in USB charger at it’s trunk inviting users and visitors to sit under the solar panels and charge their smart devices 24 hours a day for free!
Technical Specifications
The Solar Tree utilises Leadsun’s innovative and proprietary ‘All-In-One’ solar-powered energy systems. The entire system features a combination of three 80W ‘Solar-Engines’ that collects and captures energy from the sun into the built-in Lithium-Ion batteries to then power the LED lights & USB chargers.
The energy produced from the Solar Engines is then distributed through its branches into ultra-efficient LED lighting fixtures featuring a motion-sensor and dimming capabilities. The Solar Tree provides a beacon of light throughout the evening for safety, whilst demonstrating new-energy technologies through it’s USB charging station located at it’s base.
See it Live
The Solar Tree provides the perfect opportunity for municipalities to uniquely demonstrate their ambition for social & environmental leadership to the public as well showcasing new-energy technologies into public spaces & pop-up parks powered by the limitless energy of the sun.
Experience the power for yourself and charge your phone in safety under the lights of the Solar Tree located in the beautiful grounds of Birrarung Marr. The lights illuminate the granite sand and provides a warm inviting glow for the community to use the Solar Tree in the evening.
Leadsun solar lights stand strong after recent Goulburn floods
In August 2020, heavy rainfall caused flooding in Goulburn and surrounding areas, with around 130 millimetres of rain recorded by the Bureau of Meteorology for Goulburn and totals of over 200 millimetres reported in some areas around the region.
Unfortunately, the flooding caused significant damage to some public assets including roads, footpaths and stormwater pipes. Thankfully, however, the solar lights Leadsun had just finished installing in Goulburn – as part of Stage 2 of what is being called Australia’s largest solar lighting installation along the Wollondilly River Walking Track – stood strong.
Our lights were able to weather the storm and remain standing and fully operational, thanks in part to the fact that all the light technology – including our advanced battery system – is housed at the top of the lighting unit, which kept the lights safe from floodwater harm. This would not unfortunately have been the case had the track been lit with traditional grid-connected wired lighting, which would not have survived flood levels like those seen in Goulburn.
As Mayor Bob Kirk has stated, “Fortunately, much of our infrastructure network has come through relatively unscathed, with assets such as the Wollondilly River Walkway in reasonable condition. No solar light was damaged.”
This story is just one in our collective experience that demonstrates yet again why our brand promise at Leadsun is Always Dependable, and why we stand by it.
Leadsun is bringing SMART public lighting into all Australian municipalities – easily, affordably and efficiently. If you are looking for a dependable, cost-effective and environmentally friendly solar lighting solution to enhance your community’s public spaces, get in touch with us today.
Thanks to the Covid-19 many of us find ourselves in lockdown with little reprieve other than a morning potter or an evening stroll. In Goulburn, thanks to what is being called Australia’s largest solar lighting installation, locals can now more easily walk and cycle their way to the salutary effects of a daily jaunt.
With the threat of lockdown once again in effect or on the cards for large parts of the nation, many of us are once again facing the prospect of having very little to look forward to each day other than a solitary stroll or a potter-about with a partner.
In fact, the Heart Foundation estimates that 30% of people are walking more than usual thanks to the impacts of the pandemic. That’s why the Goulburn Mulwaree Council (Council) in New South Wales (NSW) has installed what is said to be Australia’s largest solar pathway lighting project.
After all, at this time of year, when the sun seems to show up more out of habit than wanting to put a good long shift in, need of lighting along our walkabout pathways is at its most luminous. That’s why Council nudged Melbourne-based company Leadsun to install 160 of its AE3C solar lights along 10km of the Wollondilly River Walking Track in Goulburn.
Leadsun, which holds a patent on what it calls the first “all-in-one LED solar light,” began the project a year ago, and Managing Director Matt Pollard said that sporting clubs, walking groups and residents were increasingly lobbying local governments to apply for grants to install Smart solar lighting to improve access and safety.
Council utilised the majority of a $500,000 Federal Sport and Recreation grant for the solar lighting of the riverine track. Although, it must be said, one for one, solar public lighting is cheaper than your normal street lighting, partly because it doesn’t require much trenching or electrical wiring, but also because the energy is free from the sun and can be stored in lithium-ion batteries for up to three days.
Wollondilly River Walking Track powering up for a busy night.
At just over 160 solar lights, Pollard believes its the largest solar pathway lighting project in Australia. Even fossil fuel enthusiasts like Federal Energy Minister Angus Taylor, who would probably prefer Australia’s bush pathways lit by the incendiary fire of gaslamps, had to admit that the walkway in Goulburn was now safer and more accessible. “I’m thrilled that the installation of solar lighting will extend the hours of use of the walkway,” said Taylor.
“There is an increasing awareness that we can all do our bit to reduce carbon emissions across a broad range of smaller-scale projects and in our individual lives,” continued Taylor with a distinct lack of ironical self-awareness. “Along with many Goulburn residents, I enjoy running this track early in the morning or later in the afternoon. the lights will be a great addition to the course, particularly in winter.”
Another such Goulburn resident is Daniel Strickland, a member of Mission Australia’s Man Walk group and a regular trotter of the track, who said the path is far busier than before, especially at those times before the dawn and after the dusk, when previously “we would come along with our iPhones and our torches.” Unfortunately, Strickland failed to mention having ever seen Energy Minister Taylor running the track with gaslamp outstretched before him like Sherlock Holmes on one of his deductive exercises along the Thames.
Nevertheless, the clear success and savings of the project means that Council is now planning a further 1.5km extension to the Smart lighting project. Leadsun, lead on.
Sustainable lighting for your communities most valuable assets
Shared Pathways
Car Parks
Recreation Reserves
Street Lighting
The Leadsun Difference
Leadsun’s Advanced Battery Management System
Leadsun uses new-generation Lithium LiFePO4 batteries which are the heartbeat of our off-grid systems. The custom-built design provides 3 times more storage and power capacity compared to traditional Lead Acid batteries enabling maximum performance, reliability and longevity, all within a limited space.
Our patented ground-breaking battery technology can DOUBLE the normal life expectancy of any other traditional Lithium battery system by never fully charging or discharging its cells. This prevents unnecessary full range operating which reduces stress and lengthens the cycle life of the battery of up to 10 years.
This world first technology is only available from Leadsun
Leadsun - always innovating, always moving forward, and always dependable
Our cities are being transformed with new technologies faster than ever, posing new challenges every day. That’s why Leadsun partners with municipalities across Australia to fully understand their needs and be the trusted advisor steering them into the future.
Leadsun applies the experience and expertise we’ve built distributing more than 20,000 light systems – as well as our world-class solar lighting engineering design and technology – to provide local authorities solutions and guidance they can depend on.
With unprecedented numbers of people accessing public recreational areas across Australia due to COVID-19 – and councils needing to provide safe access to those spaces – we’ve been busier than ever bringing the light of day into the night for safer, more active communities.
This month, we highlight how we lit up Middle Arm Road in Goulburn and finished a milestone project lighting 10 kilometres of walkway and cycle paths. We also share 6 advantages of SMART public lighting and let the numbers do the talking with a grid-vs-grid-free cost comparison.
We’re also excited to welcome Leadsun’s new Strategic Partnerships Manager Josh Trouchet, who brings expertise and experience built through an impressive career in commercial and residential construction across Australia. Josh would love to hear from you so get in touch today to learn more about the benefits of our off-grid solar lighting and why it’s the preferred choice for public open space lighting.
Middle Arm Road lit up under the Safe Road Program
Leadsun was recently approached to provide an affordable yet compliant, dependable solution to light up the popular Middle Arm Road in Goulburn under the Council’s Safe Road Program. The resulting cable-and-grid free solution gives council long-lasting, reliable and sustainable lighting for years to come. Click below for the full story and video footage of the project.
Lighting up Goulburn – the largest public solar lighting project of its kind
With 31% of people walking more than usual during COVID-19, Australian local governments are being urged to invest in SMART public lighting. As part of a milestone project for Goulburn Mulwaree Council, Leadsun installed 160 lights along 10km of walkway and cycle paths, in what is the largest public solar lighting project of its kind in Australia.
With huge numbers of people accessing public recreational spaces, it’s a crucial time for local governments to consider the role of sustainable, affordable SMART public lighting in shaping safer, more active communities. Click below for the 6 key advantages of SMART public lighting – they may surprise you.
Eye opening – Grid versus Grid-Free installation cost comparison
As well as environmental, efficiency, safety and time benefits, SMART public lighting provides significant cost benefits. See this cost comparison to find out how using grid-free solar instead of grid-connected wired lighting for a 1km pedestrian pathway can save your project at least $50,000.
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Wodonga council plans expansion of solar pathway network as the number of people walking increases
With more people walking and 31% of people walking more than usual during COVID-19 the Wodonga Council is doing what more councils are being urged to do – invest in solar pathway lighting.
Victoria Walks Executive Officer Ben Rossiter is heading up the campaign to call on councils across Victoria to apply for their share of Government Safety Grants available to help fund lighting projects.
“Since mid-March, Victoria Walks has seen exponential growth in the number of Victorians looking for great, safe places to walk,” Dr Rossiter said.
Since 2018 Wodonga Council has led the way installing solar lighting across kilometres of popular pathways including at Birallee Park, David Bishop Park, Arthur Dunstan Park, Frank Kier Park, George Looms Park, Westlands Park, James Taverny Park and Belvoir Park.
Melbourne-based Leadsun, a world leader in solar public lighting and an associate member of Victoria Walks, has worked with Wodonga Council to install the lighting which has made pathways more accessible and helped improve safety.
Managing Director Matt Pollard said with the increase in local exercise and people out walking, community groups and residents are urging their local councils for improvements to pathways and trails.
“Many of the recreational trails where people love to walk are in areas where you can’t get traditional street lighting in or it’s too expensive to even try,” Mr Pollard said.
“In most cases, people either won’t use the path before dawn or after dark, or they’ll walk with an iPhone or torch to try to see where they’re going. One for one, solar lighting is more cost effective than traditional electrical public lighting as there’s no need for extensive trenching, no electrical wiring and the power stores in the battery for three days.”
Wodonga Council said the rollout of the solar lighting project enhanced the extensive pathways network that was well-used by the community.
“The solar lighting project is an initiative that aims to enhance personal safety, deter antisocial behaviour and create improved levels of connectivity in the community,” a Council spokesperson said.
AUSTRALIA’S LARGEST SMART PUBLIC LIGHTING PROJECT COMPLETED AS THE NUMBER OF PEOPLE WALKING INCREASES
With more people walking and 31 percent of people walking more than usual during COVID, the Goulburn Mulwaree Council in New South Wales has done what more local governments across Australia are being urged to do – invest in SMART public lighting.
As part of a milestone project, Melbourne-based company, Leadsun, has installed 160 lights along 10 kilometres of walkway and cycle paths in Goulburn in what is the largest public solar lighting project of its kind in Australia.
Leadsun’s Managing Director, Matt Pollard, said Leadsun was a world leader in public solar lighting having designed and patented the first an all-in-one LED solar light.
“This Goulburn project started 12 months ago. Initially there was the first stage which had 120 lights over the first section of the pathway,” Mr Pollard said.
“Since then, there’s been an extension to the pathway network and there’s been another 42 lights, so in total there’s 160 lights all connected throughout the pathway and I believe that’s the largest solar pathway lighting project in Australia.”
Energy Minister and Federal Member for Hume Angus Taylor said the walkway in Goulburn was now safer and more accessible making it a well-used community asset. “I’m thrilled that the installation of solar lighting will extend the hours of use of the walkway,” Minister Taylor said.
Member of Mission Australia’s Man Walk group, Daniel Strickland who uses the path weekly said he has seen more people exercising before sunrise and at night since the lights were installed.
“When we started in July last year before the lights we would come along with our iPhones and our torches,” he said.
One for one, solar public lighting is more cost effective than traditional electrical street lighting and does not require extensive trenching nor electrical wiring. Power can be stored in the lithium-ion batteries for three days.
The Goulburn Mulwaree Council is now planning a further 1.5km extension to the solar lighting project which was partly funded under the Federal Government Community Sport Infrastructure Program.
Mr Pollard said sporting clubs, walking groups and residents were increasingly lobbying local governments to apply for grants to install solar lighting to improve access and safety.
