Solar public lighting: how much can a municipality really save?
In some municipalities, the public lighting bill exceeds that of schools or sports facilities. Up to 40% of a municipality’s electricity consumption can come solely from lighting (source: ADEME). At a time when energy prices are skyrocketing and every euro counts, this expense becomes a major political and budgetary issue.
So, how can this expense be turned into a lever for savings and sustainability?
Numbers that speak for themselves
According to the International Energy Agency (IEA) and the World Bank, each solar streetlight can save a municipality an average of €80 to €150 per year on its energy bill.
Multiplied by dozens or even hundreds of units, these savings quickly become visible in the municipal budget. The World Bank (2023) also emphasizes that “solar lighting is one of the most cost-effective and rapidly deployable solutions to reduce public costs and the carbon footprint of infrastructure.”
A more affordable initial investment
Contrary to popular belief, solar isn’t just beneficial over time: it’s also cheaper from the start. The absence of trenches, cabling, and heavy civil engineering work reduces the initial installation cost.
Savings well beyond energy
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Simplified installation: without trenches or cabling, civil engineering costs are reduced by 30–40% (ADEME, 2022).
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Reduced maintenance: autonomy, remote monitoring, long-life batteries → no major maintenance for up to 10 years.
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Longevity and performance: lifespan over 20 years, consistent lighting performance.
When a municipality goes solar: the agen example
With experience in France and internationally, Fonroche Lighting supports municipalities in transforming their public lighting infrastructure. The Agen Agglomeration called on their teams to address a major challenge: an annual public lighting bill of €1.7M.
Results were significant:
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6,000 solar streetlights installed
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€935,000 saved per year on energy costs
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190 km of electrical networks removed
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€15M of investments avoided over 10 years
As Jean-Dionis du Séjour, President of the Agen Agglomeration, notes:
“We started by testing lighting on a soft path. The results were so conclusive that we decided to expand the projects.”
How much can a municipality really save? The answer depends on the number of light points, political ambitions, and technical choices. But one thing is clear: wherever it is installed, solar lighting redefines the balance between initial cost, autonomy, and sustainability.
