Case Study: Reducing Energy Costs by 68% with AZJ Solar Street Lights
In 2023, a West African municipality faced rising electricity bills and frequent grid outages that left key roads unlit for hours every night. Seeking a reliable, cost-efficient, and sustainable lighting solution, the city partnered with AZJ Lighting to implement a large-scale solar street light retrofit.
This project not only achieved a 68% reduction in annual energy costs, but also improved road safety, reduced maintenance downtime, and delivered a positive ROI in under 18 months.
ection 1 — The Challenge
The municipality had more than 1,000 grid-powered street lights, many of which suffered from:
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High energy bills exceeding $200,000 per year
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Frequent power cuts leading to dark streets and safety complaints
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Costly maintenance due to aging infrastructure
Traditional LED upgrades could have reduced consumption, but the grid dependency problem remained. The city needed a standalone lighting system — one that could operate 100% off-grid while ensuring consistent nighttime illumination.
Section 2 — The AZJ Solution
After site audits and illumination studies, AZJ Lighting proposed a solar-powered street lighting system tailored for tropical climates:
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Model: AZJ-SL80
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Power: 80W LED + 160W Monocrystalline Solar Panel
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Battery: 384Wh LiFePO4 with smart energy management
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Runtime: 12–14 hours continuous illumination
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Lifespan: 10+ years
Each light was pre-assembled and factory-tested before shipment, minimizing on-site installation time.
The project included:
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1,000 solar street lights
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Installation training for local teams
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2-year on-site maintenance support
Section 3 — ROI and Payback Analysis
Below is a simplified snapshot from the ROI Calculator (Excel download available):
| Category | Traditional Grid Lighting | AZJ Solar Lighting | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| CAPEX (Initial Investment) | $120,000 | $250,000 | +$130,000 |
| Annual OPEX (Energy + Maintenance) | $200,000 | $64,000 | –$136,000/year |
| Payback Period | — | 1.8 years | — |
| CO₂ Reduction | — | 150 tons/year | — |
Result: The city achieved full payback within 18 months and continues to save approximately $136,000 per year in operating expenses.
Section 4 — Real-World Impact
The benefits extended beyond the financial return:
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Public Safety: Nighttime traffic accidents dropped by 32%.
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Reliability: 99% uptime, even during rainy seasons.
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Sustainability: The project reduced dependency on the national grid and cut CO₂ emissions.
City officials also reported improved citizen satisfaction and reduced complaints — turning the project into a model for neighboring municipalities.
Section 5 — What This Means for You
Whether you manage a city, an industrial park, or a resort complex, the same solar ROI framework can guide your investment decisions.
By analyzing CAPEX and OPEX savings, stakeholders can forecast payback time, maintenance cost reductions, and long-term sustainability gains before purchase.
Section 6 — About AZJ Lighting
AZJ Lighting is a professional solar lighting manufacturer specializing in OEM/ODM projects for global distributors, EPCs, and municipal clients.
With 15+ years of experience and clients across 40+ countries, we deliver reliable solar lighting systems engineered for performance, safety, and durability.
Visit us at azjlighting.com to explore our product range or contact our sales team for your next solar lighting project.