South Africa's persistent load-shedding crisis, ageing electricity infrastructure, and rising tariffs necessitate sustainable alternatives for public lighting. This study presents a comprehensive techno-economic assessment of solar-powered street lighting systems in the Cape Town Metropolitan Area, focusing on optimising system design, evaluating economic viability, quantifying energy savings, and assessing technical suitability under local climatic conditions. Using quantitative data collection, DIALux lighting simulation, NASA climatology data, and financial modelling, the research evaluates the feasibility of replacing conventional 250W High-Pressure Sodium (HPS) streetlights with  174W solar-powered LED systems. The proposed configuration achieves 60.38% energy savings while complying with SANS 10098-1 public lighting standards. Economic analysis demonstrates strong feasibility, with an internal rate of return (IRR) of 15.51%, a net present value (NPV) of R18.7 million, and a discounted payback period of 5.73 years over a 20-year assessment period. Sensitivity analysis confirms project robustness under varying electricity tariff escalation and battery pricing scenarios. The findings confirm that solar-powered LED street lighting is both technically viable and financially attractive, providing a resilient infrastructure solution that enhances urban energy security, reduces municipal electricity costs, and supports South Africa’s renewable energy transition.

Keywords

Solar Street Lighting, Techno-Economic Assessment, Energy Security, LED Lighting, Renewable Energy