Using Solar-Powered LEDs To Provide Runway Lighting

Imagine lighting your runway without paying the electric bill. That's the driving vision behind a Canadian company called Carmanah.

One of the company's latest projects involves lighting both taxiways and runways at the Truckee Tahoe Airport (CA) at a cost of $122,000. Purchased in December, the airport estimates the solar-powered LED lighting from Carmanah will save more than a quarter of a million dollars over the cost of conventional lighting.

"Truckee Tahoe joins a rapidly growing list of airports discovering the safety, reliability and cost advantages of solar LED lighting," Carmanah's CEO, Art Aylesworth said. "We spent a significant portion of 2003 educating the market about our technology and proving its viability. We are confident that 2004 will be a year when the technology is embraced, as we saw with LED marine markers and traffic signals a few years ago."

Imagine lighting airport surfaces without extensive wiring. Each of Carmaha's lights is self-contained. In addition to the savings in installation and wiring, the airport estimates it will save more than $18,000 a year in operating costs.

"The savings can be put toward upgrading other infrastructure at the airport", Aylesworth said.

The lighting scheme looks so good -- at least on the surface -- that the FAA plans to use Truckee Tahoe as an example for the rest of the country as the administration looks for ways to improve runway lighting technology.

FMI: www.solarairportlights.com