Today, some 1.6 billion people worldwide – including 500 million in Africa – do not have access to electricity. In particular in equatorial regions, darkness falls around 6.30 pm and stays dark for almost 12 hours. Life in these communities simply comes to a halt, affecting education, security, productivity, employment and quality of life.
Solar powered LED lighting will allow communities and villages to come together after dark will provide significant benefits. In particular, Philips’ mini floodlighting solution, featuring eight LED floodlights suspended from four portable poles, has been designed for areas with limited or no access to electricity. Power comes from solar-powered batteries, and the system is therefore completely sustainable. Furthermore, it will light an area of approx 30-40 metres in length, by 15-20 metres wide – which is enough to allow a five-a-side game of football. The batteries will provide up to 8 hours light after a single charge in the sun. The light levels will be enough to comfortably play football and see the difference in shirt colours. Imagine good quality white street lighting. The Philips Fortimo LED modules used by the floodlights provide bright white light, which delivers a lightoutput of 12,200 lumen and on average 15 lux on a 30x15 metre pitch.
The floodlight system is being offered by Philips as a complete ‘turnkey’ project solution, tailored to each customer’s requirements, and including everything from the total system design to the floodlights, masts, batteries and solar panels.
Thanks to application of the latest Philips LED lighting technology, the floodlights can be used as for general area floodlighting for anything from other sports activities, but also for security, and economic activities such as markets and construction work. In the developed world there are many areas which need temporary lighting and which are not connected to the electricity grid. In addition, the drive for sustainable solutions is increasing.
The LED floodlighting system continues Philips’ track record of applying innovation to solve lighting challenges in parts of the world where lack of electricity impacts the quality of life. In 2008, Philips formed a partnership with the government of the Netherlands to co-develop lighting solutions for sub-Saharan Africa. In September 2009, Philips joined the United Nations Environment Program (UNEP) in calling for an acceleration of the switch to energy efficient lighting in on-grid environments, especially in the developing world, and to create sustainable off-grid lighting solutions for those regions.
About Royal Philips Electronics
Royal Philips Electronics of the Netherlands (NYSE: PHG, AEX: PHI) is a diversified Health and Well-being company, focused on improving people’s lives through timely innovations. As a world leader in healthcare, lifestyle and lighting, Philips integrates technologies and design into people-centric solutions, based on fundamental customer insights and the brand promise of “sense and simplicity”. Headquartered in the Netherlands, Philips employs more than 118,000 employees in more than 60 countries worldwide. With sales of EUR 26 billion in 2008, the company is a market leader in cardiac care, acute care and home healthcare, energy efficient lighting solutions and new lighting applications, as well as lifestyle products for personal well-being and pleasure with strong leadership positions in flat TV, male shaving and grooming, portable entertainment and oral healthcare. News from Philips is located at www.philips.com/newscenter.