Project Narrative: Clemson University Solar Lighting Demonstration 

City of Clemson, South Carolina 

Project Context and Objectives 

• Clemson University launched a solar lighting initiative at two of its facilities, aiming to explore the capabilities and resilience of off-grid lighting systems in an academic and real-world context. 

• Led by the university's engineering department, the project was designed to serve both a practical infrastructure need and an educational purpose for students studying renewable energy systems. 

• SELS was selected for its cutting-edge solar lighting technology, attractive system design, exclusive intellectual property, and integrated communication system that enabled live data monitoring. 

Site-Specific Challenges 

• Educational Integration 

o The lighting system had to provide meaningful, real-time data for student learning and analysis. 

• Performance Benchmarking 

o A key goal was to compare the effectiveness of SELS’s solar lighting against traditional grid-connected systems. 

• Design Standards 

o The university required a clean, modern aesthetic that complemented campus architecture and met university-level standards. 

SELS Design and Execution Strategy 

• Data-Driven Solar Lighting 

o SELS equipped the systems with a real-time communication interface, allowing students and faculty to monitor performance metrics as part of their curriculum. 

• Collaborative Installation 

o SELS provided the system design and components, while Clemson's own facilities team handled the on-site installation—an approach that further integrated the system into the university’s academic environment. 

• Focus on Longevity and Reliability 

o The selected system was built to require zero maintenance and operate independently for years without interruption. 

Project Outcomes and Impact 

• Zero Maintenance, Continuous Operation 

o Since installation in 2018, the solar lighting systems have run without any outages or failures, confirming long-term reliability. 

• Educational Value Delivered 

o Students gained hands-on experience with renewable energy systems, reinforcing Clemson’s role as a leader in applied engineering education. 

• Proof of Sustainable Viability 

o The project validated that solar lighting could meet or exceed the performance of grid-connected systems—without the associated utility costs. 

Closing Summary 

• The Clemson University Solar Lighting Demonstration stands as a successful integration of sustainable technology into both campus infrastructure and academic programming. 

• The collaboration between SELS and Clemson exemplifies how institutions can explore innovative solutions while educating future engineers and decision-makers. 

• The project remains a model for other universities seeking to combine practical implementation with educational impact.