Solar Light for Power Cuts: Best Backup Options in Kenya
Power cuts can interrupt much more than evening activities.
At home, darkness can affect cooking, movement and security. In a shop, salon, kiosk, restaurant or office, a blackout can interfere with business.
A solar light can provide an alternative source of lighting without depending on the grid during the outage.
But different solar lights solve different problems.
Which solar light should you use during a power cut?
The answer depends on whether you need:
- Portable lighting
- Emergency backup lighting
- Outdoor security
- Wide-area illumination
- Continuous nighttime lighting
Emergency lights
Emergency lights are generally intended for backup illumination when electricity fails.
They can be useful for:
- Homes
- Offices
- Shops
- Salons
- Restaurants
- Corridors
- Small businesses
SolarCity currently has a dedicated Emergency Lights category.
Solar floodlights
Floodlights are more suitable when you need outdoor illumination.
They can help with:
- Gates
- Compounds
- Parking
- Shops
- Farms
- Outdoor work areas
Solar security lights
Security lighting focuses on outdoor areas that need to remain visible at night.
Potential locations include:
- Main gates
- Perimeter walls
- Back entrances
- Parking
- Side passages
Why solar lighting helps during blackouts
A standalone solar lighting system generates and stores energy independently of the electricity grid.
That means a power outage does not automatically switch off the light.
However, performance still depends on:
- Battery capacity
- Solar charging
- Lighting mode
- Actual power consumption
- Weather
- How long the light has been operating
How long will the light operate?
Do not rely only on a seller saying:
“All-night lighting.”
Ask for the product’s verified battery capacity and operating conditions.
A simple energy calculation is:
Battery Wh = Ah × V
Then, approximately:
Runtime = Battery Wh ÷ actual power consumption
Real-world runtime can differ because of battery efficiency, temperature, charge level, lighting modes and other system losses.
What should a shop owner consider?
If you run a kiosk, salon or shop, consider what happens when electricity fails.
Do you need:
- Enough light for customers?
- Security outside the shop?
- Light for the counter?
- Light for a parking area?
- Lighting for the entrance?
A small emergency light may solve the first problem.
A solar floodlight may solve the second.
You may need both.
What about restaurants?
A restaurant may need lighting for:
- Entrance
- Parking
- Outdoor seating
- Walkways
- Kitchen/service areas
- Security
Outdoor areas may benefit from solar floodlights or garden lights, while indoor areas may need a different emergency-lighting solution.
Rainy-season blackouts
During prolonged cloudy weather, solar panels may collect less energy.
That makes battery capacity and panel sizing important.
Don’t assume every solar light will deliver exactly the same runtime every night during a long rainy period.
What should you ask before buying?
Ask:
- What is the battery capacity?
- What is the battery voltage?
- What is the panel rating?
- What is the verified runtime?
- What is the charging requirement?
- What lighting mode does it use?
- What is the IP rating?
- Is the light indoor or outdoor?
- What warranty applies?
- What is included?
FAQs
Can solar lights replace emergency lights?
Depending on the application, a solar emergency light can provide backup illumination, while solar floodlights are better suited to outdoor areas.
Do solar lights work during KPLC outages?
Standalone solar lights can continue operating during a grid outage because they do not require the grid to produce their stored solar energy.
How long will a solar light stay on?
It depends on the battery, actual power consumption, lighting mode and stored energy.
Are solar floodlights good for shops?
They can be useful for entrances, outdoor areas, parking and security, but the correct model depends on the space.
Need lighting for your home or business during blackouts? Browse SolarCity’s emergency and solar lighting options or chat with us on WhatsApp.