As Signify has stated with its press release, the company launches a “new integrated Philips Combo Charge Controller” which the emergence of hybrid solar systems. As the Signify explains, this enables streetlights to use clean solar-powered electricity when there is sunshine and the mains grid at other times and open up new markets for solar-powered lighting.

The new combo charge controller is also able to boost the output of solar streetlights to 24,000 lumens and supports wireless remote monitoring functionality. The new technology will be integrated into all the solar lighting products Signify is launching this year.


As the company pointed out more than one billion of people living in communities not connected to the electricity grid currently benefit from the technology of solar lighting. With the new hybrid technology the other 6.5 billion people living in communities connected to the electricity grid can now benefit from the benefits solar power as well. .This is the case as battery power can reduce reliance on the grid during times of peak demand, eliminating the need to bring online extra generators."

The solar panels charge the batteries during the day and if the batteries run out of power, the LEDs are powered with energy drawn from the power grid. Hybrid solar systems only need a solar panel and battery capacity of one day as grid power is available during cloudy days or in wintertime. This stands in strong contrast to the situation with off-grid solar lighting systems which may need up to five days of panel and battery capacity.

As Signify concluded, “…this makes solar lighting now also a feasible solution in areas with seasonal sunshine and will greatly help on saving energy in those places. The new combo charge controller also increases efficiency and reliability and can charge luminaires from 5.000 to 24.000 lumens. sm