Fiber Optic Solar lighting: How to bring natural sunlight into a building?

Fiber optic is used not only for communications, Fiber optic based solar lighting solution transmits the light from a source through the fiber to a remote location.Many companies are now producing systems for capturing sunlight and transmitting it into the interior. With the growing popularity of high rise apartments and basements and subways, natural light often does not reach various facilities especially the ones located underground. Fiber optic based solar lighting will help to bring natural sunlight into a building. Effectively speaking one can store sunlight and then use it indoors instead of artificial light. Such a concept is going to be a massive hit with people who live in apartments or houses that don’t receive ample sunlight.

Fiber Optic Solar Lighting Concept

Several companies are now working on their models to offer natural sunlight using the fiber optic based solar lighting. The companies work on a principle whereby the use a sunlight collector system usually placed on rooftops of buildings and then transmit the sunlight using fiber optic cables into various parts of the building.

While the initial setup cost of the sunlight collectors and optic fiber cables is quite high as of now, it is mostly a onetime expenditure considering the amount of money it can save by reducing bills for artificial light. The sunlight collector requires very small amount of power to operate and the sunlight provided is natural and free of cost.

Advantages of Fiber Optic Solar Lighting

One of the biggest advantages from using the fiber optic solar lighting system or Hybrid Solar Lighting system is the sheer idea of lightening up areas with sunlight where it never reached before. While humans have become accustomed to artificial lights indoors, there is no substitute to natural light. The light provided by Fiber Optic Solar Lighting systems would be filtered for ultra violet and Infra Red rays making it safe for use reducing any chances of getting skin cancer associated with sitting in sunlight for longer hours. The system uses very little power to capture sunlight compared to other artificial lighting methods. Such UV and IR filtered sunlight can be used in places like art galleries which usually has delicate heat and light sensitive collection.

Drawback and Limitations

Since the fiber optic solar lighting system or Hybrid Solar Lighting system is still work in progress there are various drawback and limitations of the system as of now. One of the main limitations of all fiber optic solar lighting systems is the length of fiber optic cables. Another negative associated with such fiber optic solar lighting systems is the need for the sunlight collector to receive good quantum on sunshine each day. In case of clouded skies while the system can track the best available quantum on sunlight and align itself accordingly, it may not be sufficient to illuminate the dark.

Role of Hybrid Solar Lighting system

• Captures the sun light and conduct it towards a room using optical fibers.
• Delivers the benifits of the natural lighting with the convenience and reliability of artifical light.
• Hybrid Solar Lighting system helps to bring down the energy consumption and improves the wellness and productivity of residents in the building.
• Any rooms even under ground, can be illuminated with real sunlight.

Hybrid Solar Lighting consists following components

• A roof mounted SolarPoint Platform,
• A 45′ long plastic fiber optic bundle
• A number of special
• A sensor that turn the electric lights off when the natural light is sufficient.
• “Hybrid” luminaires.