PV Gap

Leslie Said:

Using solar power for billboard lighting...?

We Answered:

If you can run a power line to the billboard, that is likely to be cheaper.

But let's run the numbers. Say it takes 6 x 34 watt fluorescent tubes to light your billboard. If it needs more, scale up. That's 200 watts, and has to burn, let's say, 8 hours a night. 1.6 kWh. 30 cents of electricty from the power company.

For standalone solar, let's say you get 5 peak hours of sun a day. That's 320 watts of panel, not considering the losses in charging the battery. With other losses included, this is really about 540 watts of panel required. This is already in the ballpark of $2400, without even buying a battery or inverter.

I don't know how much income a lighted billboard generates - maybe it would pay back the cost of the solar system.