As urbanization accelerates in Southeast Asia, municipalities face increasing pressure to find cost-effective, sustainable and reliable solutions for public lighting. The ASEAN Energy Report 2024 shows that 70% of cities in the region have already adopted solar street lights, a significant shift from traditional grid-powered lighting.
This shift is driven by rising electricity costs, energy security concerns and commitments to reduce carbon emissions. Governments, urban planners and environmental advocates recognize that solar street lights can reduce municipal expenses and support ASEAN’s renewable energy goals.
Solar Street light Reduce Energy Costs for ASEAN Municipalities
One of the main reasons why 70% of ASEAN cities switched to solar street lights is to reduce costs. Traditional streetlights consume many municipal electricity budgets, especially in rapidly growing urban centers such as Jakarta, Manila, and Bangkok. By using solar energy, cities no longer need grid power, reducing streetlight costs by 60-70%. According to the ASEAN Energy Center, public lighting accounts for 20-30% of total urban electricity consumption, making solar streetlights a very effective solution for cities on a budget. Countries such as Vietnam, Malaysia and the Philippines have reported millions of dollars in annual savings after deploying large-scale solar street light projects. These cost reductions have also freed up healthcare, education and transportation infrastructure resources.
Supporting ASEAN’s renewable energy goals
ASEAN countries are committed to increasing the adoption of renewable energy, with targets set by the ASEAN Action Plan for Energy Cooperation (APAEC). The plan aims to achieve 23% renewable energy use by 2025, and solar street lights play a vital role in this transition.
Unlike traditional lighting that relies on fossil fuels for electricity generation, solar street lights run entirely on the sun’s energy, reducing reliance on coal, gas and oil power plants. The International Renewable Energy Agency reports that ASEAN’s solar capacity has doubled in the past five years, mainly driven by off-grid applications such as solar street lights. Governments such as Thailand, Indonesia and Cambodia actively promote solar street light projects as part of their national energy strategies to accelerate the transition to low-carbon urban infrastructure.
Enhancing energy security and disaster resilience
Many ASEAN countries suffer from frequent power outages due to extreme weather, aging infrastructure and energy shortages. Solar street lights that operate independently of the grid provide a reliable lighting solution, ensuring that streets remain illuminated even during power outages and natural disasters. For example, in parts of the country hit by typhoons, cities that have adopted solar street lights have maintained essential public lighting, improving the safety and security of residents. Similarly, in earthquake-prone areas of Indonesia, solar lighting is helping communities maintain infrastructure resilience without relying on the national grid. Because solar street lights store energy in battery systems, they can operate for days, even in cloudy conditions, making them a reliable option for energy security in ASEAN cities.
Role of Government Incentives in Promotion
ASEAN governments actively support solar street light projects through subsidies, tax incentives, and public-private partnerships. These fiscal policies have accelerated the adoption of solar street lights, making them an economically viable solution for cities.
Some of the key policies driving growth include:
Thailand’s Smart City Program provides subsidies for solar public infrastructure.
Malaysia’s Green Technology Master Plan provides tax exemptions for renewable energy projects, including solar street lights.
Vietnam’s solar promotion program encourages municipalities to install solar LED street lights in rural and urban areas.
With strong government support, ASEAN cities can install solar street lights at a low upfront cost and ensure a quick return on investment through energy savings and reduced maintenance expenses.
Improving public safety and urban infrastructure
Reliable street lighting is essential for crime prevention, road safety, and nighttime economic activity. Studies show that well-lit streets can reduce crime by 30% and accidents by 40% in urban areas.
Solar street lights provide continuous illumination, especially in unstable power grids. In cities such as Ho Chi Minh City and Kuala Lumpur, installing solar street lights has improved pedestrian safety and enhanced nighttime business operations. In addition, solar street lights are equipped with smart sensors that can automatically adjust brightness levels based on movement, further optimizing energy efficiency while ensuring public spaces remain safe and well-lit.
Confirmed at the end
The ASEAN Energy Report 2024 confirms that 70% of cities in the region have already adopted solar street lights due to their advantages such as cost savings, sustainability, energy security, and technological advancement. Governments actively support this transition through policy incentives, innovative city programs, and climate action plans.
