Sharp Electronics Corporation, Carmanah Technologies Corporation, Inovus Solar Inc. and SolarOne Solutions Inc., have announced the Consortium for Solar Lighting (CSL). The mission of this group is to accelerate the adoption of reliable solar lighting technology through the development of universal specifications intended to support customers’ fair and comprehensive evaluation of commercial-scale lighting systems. In the process, the group expects that these specifications will foster awareness of solar powered lighting and the applications where it is a viable alternative to conventional grid-connected lighting technology.
The group is focused on assessment of the energy balance of a system design to ensure operation that is aligned with customer’s expectations. Other aspects of the system design, including standards that apply to individual components of the system, lighting characteristics or aspects that relate to safety are already being addressed through national and international bodies such as Commission International D’eclairage (CIE), Illuminating Engineering Society of North America (IESNA), International Electrotechniques Commission (IEC) and Underwriters Laboratories (UL).
The first milestone of the of group is to develop common terminology and key metrics presented in a consistent, user-friendly form that can be readily adopted by municipal, government and commercial customers and specifiers. A white paper on this topic, “Solar Lighting Recommended Practices: System Sizing – Preliminary Version” is scheduled for release on June 15, 2011. An introductory flyer about the Consortium and its mission will be available during the 2011 LightFair in Philadelphia on May 17-19, 2011 at the booths of the respective members as well as through their corporate websites. The founding members invite other North American solar powered lighting manufacturers who are able to commit time and resources to join them in establishing a formal organization to pursue the CSL’s mission.
To learn more, visit www.consortiumforsolarlighting.com.
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