solarposts were concreted into the ground surface using a sub-surface base plate. The electric bollards would have required trenching and cabling to provide a power supply to each bollard. The project was in an urban area so a power supply was readily accessible. However, the trenching would have required resurfacing and left a repair mark on the pathway as well as adding extra expense.
The solar installation cost cost of nine solarposts supplied and installed was £6858. The quoted cost for supply and installation of nine electric bollards was £9285 (including trenching, cabling and making good) representing a saving of nearly £2500 on just nine bollards, or just over 25%.
The solarpost bollards will provide further savings as they incur no energy costs to run taking all their power from the sun. They require minimal maintenance, the solarpost bulb is guaranteed for 10 years and there are no electrical connections or wiring that requires inspection providing a further saving on manpower.
The costs of installation of solarposts are essentially constant irrespective of location since once they are on site, all that is required is fixing into concrete.
Where access to a power supply, either mains or generator, is more challenging, the savings in installation costs for solarposts over electric bollards will be even greater. In cases where a power supply is not available, then solarpost bollards offer a means of providing illumination not otherwise possible.