Design and Testing of a Photovoltaic-Powered LED Street Lighting System for Rural Roads in Nasarawa State

Background: Inadequate street lighting on rural roads in North Central Nigeria contributes to road accidents and insecurity. Photovoltaic-powered LED street lighting systems offer a grid-independent, low-maintenance solution. Aim: This project designed and tested a PV-powered LED street lighting system for application on rural roads in Nasarawa State. Methods: The system comprised a 60W monocrystalline solar panel, a 20Ah lithium iron phosphate battery, a PWM charge controller, and a 20W LED luminaire. A light-dependent resistor circuit provided automatic dusk-to-dawn operation. Performance was evaluated over 45 nights, measuring illuminance levels, battery state of charge, and system reliability. Results: Mean illuminance at 5 metres below the luminaire was 18.4 lux, consistent with Nigerian standards for rural road lighting. Battery state of charge remained above 60% on 89% of nights. System reliability over the test period was 96.4%. Conclusion: The designed PV-LED street light is technically reliable and energy-efficient for rural road applications. The study recommends scaling to multi-pole pilot installations on selected Nasarawa State rural roads. Keywords: solar street lighting, LED, rural roads, Nasarawa State, photovoltaic.