Thorn unveils an all-new solar-powered LED concept luminaire for urban areas at the 2008 international Light+Building show in Frankfurt, Germany – an important step which, according to the company's outdoor product marketing director, Joachim Leibig, could completely change people's thinking about exterior lighting and luminaire design.
The highly distinctive Monolit points the way to a future generation of Thorn luminaires that factor in total environmental integrity to help create a sustainable society.
Identical on both sides the 3.4m high, blue-grey rectangular structure has two solar electric panels (also called photovoltaic or PV panels) flanked top and bottom by a modified LED Band luminaire (an 600mm strip of 10 x 1W LEDs). The rows of LEDs (4 x 10) are mounted at 3.2m and 0.9m above the ground for overall lighting and pavement illumination respectively. The unit operates independently of the mains supply via storage batteries within the base.
The concept could provide the opportunity to light precincts, walkways and civic plazas and, being a useful design element in its own right, act as a direction/gateway feature for town centres, shopping malls, airports and open space events
"What the Monolit does", says Leibig, "is use stored energy gathered using photovoltaic panels to drive 40 LEDs without compromising the design and performance of the lighting." Solar PV panels are ideally suited to the urban environment as they use sunlight to create clean, reliable, electricity at the point of demand to run equipment, such as luminaires. For the Monolit prototype, Thorn co-operated with Würth Solergy, who make panels using multi-layered copper indium diselenide (CIS) solar cell thin-film technology. CIS has excellent absorptivity and performance under low-light conditions; uses no expensive silicon and its smooth black appearance is well suited for urban areas.
"The key appeal lies in zero-carbon emissions, no electricity bills nor cabling, low maintenance, long life and no noise", adds Leibig, "the result is a luminaire attuned to the company's light-making philosophy: PEC – performance, efficiency and comfort."
The crucial thing about the new development is that Thorn feels that a real change is taking place in the attitude towards the ethical use of energy in lighting. The result transcends existing equipment, and steps into the future where the use of renewables, such as solar PV, will be essential.
Peter Matt, CEO of the Thorn brand, sums up: "this is a particularly exciting and important move in our commitment to sustainable development. We see this as a great opportunity to make an even more valuable contribution to the saving of energy whilst simultaneously opening up a new market segment for the Thorn brand. Obviously there is a huge demand for exterior lighting powered by clean energy. We think we've clinched that now – and I don't think we'll stop there. We may have some more developments before very long."
Thorn Lighting Limited
Tel: +44 (0)20 8732 1927
Fax: +44(0)20 8732 1911
mailto:[email protected]
www.thornlighting.com
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