Improving safety and reducing crime: The power of solar lights in remote and isolated areas
With the shift towards sustainability, commercial solar lighting has become a dependable and increasingly conventional solution for lighting up outdoor public spaces including roads, streets, pathways, car parks and marine areas.
Over the past few years, commercial solar lighting suppliers have also recognised an increase in demand for solar lighting solutions in remote and isolated areas, largely to reduce criminal activity and improve safety and security. However, the benefits of solar lighting extend far beyond crime prevention – solar street lights can be installed just about anywhere, making them perfect for remote Australian communities that lack existing electrical infrastructure or have unreliable grid connections.
In this article, Jamie Janides, General Manager of Orca Solar Lighting, looks at the role lighting plays in safety and security and explores why commercial grade solar lighting is beneficial for remote, rural, and isolated areas throughout Australia.
The impact of lighting on safety and criminal activity: What the research shows
Lighting plays an essential role in ensuring public places are safe. Well-lit areas increase visibility and accessibility, making it easier for people to access dark areas and navigate them safely, reducing the risk of accidents.
Research has also shown that effective lighting plays a fundamental part in reducing the risk of criminal activity.
– Reductions in nighttime outdoor crimes
In a 2021 study, published by the Journal of Quantitative Criminology, the impact of improved outdoor lighting was tested in 40 different locations.
Results of the study showed that communities that were assigned more lighting experienced sizeable reductions in nighttime outdoor index crimes.
Additionally, a large decline in arrests was also observed indicating that deterrence is the most likely mechanism through which the intervention reduced crime.
– Reductions in crime and increases in nighttime activity
A study conducted by the Institute of Criminology in the UK also assessed the impact of lighting. Carried out in London, this study evaluated the impact of lighting on improvements on crime, and fear of crime.
Lighting improvements were targeted on three streets and a pedestrian footpath in three separate areas of London. The streets selected for the study were assessed as crime-prone and the impact of the lighting strategy was evaluated using attitudinal and behavioural measures, through “before” and “after” surveys of the public.
The results from each of the projects provided evidence that properly designed and focused street lighting improvements can lead to reductions in crime, disorder, and fear of crime along with increasing nighttime street activity.
– Improved lighting: an effective crime prevention tool
In Australia, the Victorian Government’s Department of Justice and Safety affirms that improved lighting can be an effective crime prevention tool as:
· it can improve surveillance and increase the risk of offenders being detected;
· it can be used to improve perceptions of safety in urban areas and make public spaces more inviting at night; and
· people feel safer in well illuminated areas, increasing activity in the area, which can further improve surveillance and deter crime.
Remote and isolated areas are choosing solar for safety
When it comes to lighting up remote and isolated areas, reliable lighting can be a challenge.
Remote car parks, industrial areas, construction sites and park and recreational areas are often faced with having no access to mains power or dealing with an unreliable power grid supply.
When these remote and isolated locations are unable to access reliable lighting the safety and security of these spaces are compromised increasing the risk of accidents and criminal activity.
With zero or limited access to mains power, people based in remote and isolated locations have turned to solar powered lighting as a reliable and efficient lighting source to reduce the threat of crime and increase the safety of their people and assets.
Beyond these safety benefits, solar lighting also brings significant advantages in terms of installation and overall life-cycle costs.
Why solar lighting is ideal for remote, rural and isolated Australian areas
– No need for trenching or cabling
Installing traditional mains-powered lighting typically involves expensive and time consuming trenching or cabling. Solar lighting operates independently from the grid, eliminating this requirement and saving on installation costs. The absence of trenching also means minimal disruption to the surrounding environment, which is particularly important in sensitive or difficult-to-access remote landscapes.
– Quick and easy installation
Because solar lights are standalone units, they can be installed swiftly and with minimal labour. This advantage is especially significant in remote or isolated areas, where undertaking major infrastructure work can be both costly and logistically challenging.
– Independence from the grid
Solar lighting solutions do not rely on mains power, making them perfect for locations where there is no existing electrical infrastructure. Whether it is a rural road, a remote construction site, or an isolated car park, solar lighting can provide consistent illumination wherever it’s needed.
– Sustainable and cost effective
Solar lighting helps reduce carbon emissions by harnessing energy from the sun. With no ongoing electricity bills, it offers long term savings and a smaller environmental footprint. Over the entire lifecycle of the product, commercial grade solar lighting solutions often prove more budget-friendly than traditional lighting as a result of no ongoing power bills and reduced installation and maintenance requirements.
– Reliable operation
Solar powered lights aren’t affected by grid outages. For remote communities vulnerable to power failures, having a dependable source of light is crucial for safety and security. Even when mains power goes down, solar lighting continues to operate without interruption.
– Durable and built for harsh environments
Commercial grade solar lights are designed to withstand extreme weather conditions, including the harsh sun, wind, and storms often present in remote Australian regions. This durability means you can count on your lighting to remain operational when it’s needed most.
– Reduced labour time and costs
Maintenance is simpler and less frequent than with many traditional systems, which is especially valuable in remote locations where labour costs and travel times can be high.
– Flexibility and portability
Solar lights can be strategically installed to cover areas prone to criminal activities, such as blind spots and secluded corners. In addition, many models are portable, allowing them to be easily relocated should site requirements change or for re-use at new locations.
The flexibility of commercial solar lights means they can be strategically installed to cover areas prone to criminal activities. The presence of effective and consistent lighting can make these areas less attractive to criminals who prefer to operate in darkness.
Considerations for customers
While lighting is an important strategy in improving safety and reducing criminal activity, particularly in remote and isolated areas, it’s important for customers to understand that in some situations lighting may be counterproductive.
The Victorian Government’s Department of Justice and Safety highlights two key factors:
· Lighting an asset in an unused or isolated area without surveillance may make it easier for crimes to be committed
· Areas not intended for nighttime use do not require illumination. Lighting an area not intended for nighttime use may give users a false sense of security.
These factors should be considered as part of the overall lighting design so it’s important that lighting solutions are designed and implemented by professionals who understand lighting design and technology, and the customer’s needs.
Reputable solar lighting suppliers will always discuss the customer’s needs including why they need lighting, lighting levels, and the outcomes they want to achieve. They will also assess the site to design a solar lighting solution that is fit-for-purpose and dependable.
Finally, a reputable solar lighting supplier will never supply a job that won’t work. If the site assessment, shading assessment and solar and radiation assessment show that solar lighting solutions won’t meet the customer or location’s requirements, customers can have peace of mind knowing they will be informed of any limitations, rather than end up with an unsuitable solution.
Solar lighting: A smart, sustainable, and safer option for remote areas
For remote, rural, or isolated areas in Australia, solar lighting is an ideal solution that provides reliable, cost effective, and sustainable illumination. It dramatically enhances safety and security by deterring crime and providing visibility where it’s needed most, all while eliminating the need for traditional power sources and protecting the surrounding environment.
By partnering with experienced suppliers who understand the unique demands of these locations, remote communities and industries can enjoy peace of mind and safer spaces under the dependable glow of solar lighting.
FAQs
1) Do solar lights really help reduce crime in remote areas?
Yes—well-designed, consistent lighting improves visibility and natural surveillance, which deters offending and helps people feel safer.
2) Why choose solar lighting for remote or off-grid sites?
No trenching or cabling, quick installs, no power bills, and lights keep working during grid outages—ideal where mains power is unavailable or unreliable.
3) Where should solar lights be placed to improve safety?
Cover blind spots, paths, car parks and entry points. Use optics that light the ground evenly without glare or spill into neighbouring areas.
4) Will solar lights work in harsh regional weather?
Commercial-grade systems are engineered for heat, wind and storms. Ask for wind-region ratings, IP/IK ratings, and winter-based sizing.
5) Can solar lights run all night in remote communities?
Yes—if sized for winter worst-case with multi-night battery autonomy. Request a sizing report showing dark-day sequences.
6) Are solar lights cheaper to install than grid lights out bush?
Often. Avoiding trenching and grid connection can cut install costs and time, with no ongoing electricity bills.
7) Do solar lights still work during blackouts or emergencies?
They’re stand-alone, so they continue operating when the grid fails—useful for community safety and incident response.
8) What maintenance do remote solar lights need?
Minimal: periodic cleaning and checks. Quality batteries are maintenance-free and replaced on a multi-year cycle.
9) Can lighting ever increase risk in isolated places?
Yes—lighting unused, unsupervised areas can aid offenders or give a false sense of security. Design for actual night-time use and surveillance.
10) How do I know a solution will work at my site?
Use a professional lighting and shading assessment plus local weather/solar data. Reputable suppliers won’t sell a design that can’t meet your outcomes.
11) What features matter for remote, crime-prone locations?
Reliable all-night output, correct optics, sturdy poles/foundations, remote monitoring (if available), and portable/temporary options for fast redeployment.
12) Do solar street lights meet Australian standards?
They can—when designed to the relevant AS/NZS lighting and electrical standards and verified with a site-specific lighting plan.