Western Power Launches Smart Solar Street Lights Trial in Melville

Western Power has initiated a groundbreaking smart solar street lights trial in the City of Melville, Western Australia. This pilot project includes the installation of 100 LED-based solar street lights, all connected via a wireless radio frequency network.

For the first time in Western Australia, solar street lights will be centrally managed on a system-wide scale. This advancement brings direct operational and safety benefits to local residents and municipal authorities.

The initiative is part of the Queensland Government’s commitment to supporting innovative and intelligent infrastructure for Western Australian communities, particularly in the area of renewable energy and urban efficiency.

“Smart solar street lights represent an innovative solution to replacing ageing infrastructure,” said Queensland Energy Minister, Bill Johnston. “They also provide the added benefit of feeding important data back into Western Power’s system.”

The LED solar lighting technology offers numerous benefits including reduced carbon emissions, improved illumination, extended operational life, lower maintenance costs, and long-term savings for local councils.

Additionally, these smart solar street lights are equipped with sensors to detect and report faults and maintenance issues in real-time. Western Power currently receives approximately 40,000 reports annually concerning faulty street lights. This new system is expected to eliminate the need for manual fault reporting and drastically reduce repair time.

Enhanced functionality is another key feature of the trial. The smart solar street lights can automatically adjust brightness levels in response to ambient light conditions — improving road safety, energy usage, and even city aesthetics.

This pilot deployment is part of a broader underground power program that was recently completed in the City of Melville. By integrating the lighting rollout with the infrastructure upgrade, Western Power has significantly minimized disruption to residents and achieved meaningful cost efficiencies.

“It’s imperative that our network evolves with smart technologies to deliver efficient solutions,” said Mr. Johnston. “That’s why the McGowan Government is building a Whole of System Plan to integrate future technologies into our power system.”

This smart solar street light trial is a vital step toward smarter cities and more sustainable energy infrastructure across Western Australia.