GRANTS & FUNDING FOR SOLAR LIGHTING INITIATIVES

Leonard Frost
Jul 1
3 min read

Updated: Aug 7

As local councils, developers and private organisations look for ways to modernise infrastructure and reduce environmental impact, solar street lighting has become an increasingly attractive solution. These solutions offer long-term cost and energy savings, lower maintenance, and improved sustainability. However, despite their benefits, funding remains a hurdle.

Fortunately, there are a growing number of grants, and financing opportunities designed to support solar/lighting projects. In this blog, we cover key funding opportunities, making your project financially viable.

Why Invest in Solar Street Lighting?

Let’s highlight why solar lighting is a smart investment:

Energy Efficiency: Solar lights run independently off-grid, eliminating energy bills/ongoing payments.
Low Maintenance: With no underground cabling and fewer moving parts, solar lighting systems require less maintenance and become self-sufficient.
Sustainability Targets: Developers and Councils can meet net-zero and carbon-reduction goals more efficiently.
Reliability: In the event of power cuts or emergencies, solar lights remain operational, improving public road safety.

Key Funding Opportunities

1. Council Grants

Many councils support renewable energy and infrastructure upgrades:

Sustainability Funds: Most councils provide grants or subsidies for green infrastructure improvements.
Local Roads and Community Infrastructure: Government is assisting councils with grants to upgrade community assets, including street lighting.

Note: Regularly monitor your council’s environment or innovation websites for open grant rounds. Contact them to find out when these funds tend to be available.

2. Crowdfunding

For councils which have rising complaints about faulty lighting or no lighting at all. Crowdfunding can be an excellent way to raise the capital to invest in solar lighting by receiving donations from the residents which will benefit.

3. Local Government Energy Efficiency Programs

Certain councils have internal grants or partner with regional sustainability groups to co-fund streetlight upgrades. These smaller programs may not be widely advertised but are often more accessible.

4. Third-Party Community Grants

Organisations such as the National Lottery offer community grants, which can be accessed for a community benefit and their funding rounds tend to be substantial.

Procurement Strategies

Even with limited budgets, councils and developers can take practical steps to make solar lighting more affordable:

Phased Instalments: Prioritise high-traffic or unsafe areas first, then expand in stages.
Bulk Purchasing: Agree to buy large quantities to negotiate bulk discounts.

Application Process

Here are key steps to improve your success rate:

Clear Proposal: Include a cost-benefit analysis, emissions savings, safety improvements, and alignment with local sustainability goals.
Engage Early: Contact the organisation who manage the grant process and start learning when the best opportunity is to achieve your target.
Expert Support: Solar providers (including SolarVison) can assist in preparing technical documentation to help with your application.
Stay Compliant: Ensure your project meets all technical standards, zoning rules, and reporting requirements outlined in the funding guidelines.

SolarVision Lighting Technologies

At SolarVision Lighting, we offer turnkey solar street lighting systems designed for UK measures of daylight and weather, combining LED luminaires, advanced PV panels, smart controls, motion sensors, and remote monitoring. Our expertise spans: