Location Pimba, South Australia
Industry:Rail Transport / Mining Logistics / Remote Infrastructure
Applications:
Rail corridor lighting, shunting operations, off-grid CCTV power, remote security infrastructure, dark-sky compliant lighting
Products Installed:
- 175W Corso Solar Engine with integrated LiFePO₄ batteries
- 80 W LED Streetlights (3000 K)
- 12 m solar lighting poles,
The Aurizon Rail Hub at Pimba, South Australia required a robust off-grid lighting and power solution to support safe rail shunting operations and continuous CCTV surveillance in a remote location without access to mains electricity.
The project aimed to improve night-time safety, visibility and user comfort while controlling light spills into adjacent residential areas.
Operating in an isolated environment, the project demanded a self-sufficient system capable of delivering reliable illumination, uninterrupted power supply, and minimal environmental impact. Aurizon engaged Tigerlight to engineer a solar lighting platform that would meet operational safety requirements while preserving the natural dark-sky conditions of the surrounding landscape.
Key Outcomes
- Fully off-grid solar lighting and CCTV power solution
- Rail shunting operations supported with compliant lighting design
- 3000 K warm-white CCT selected to reduce environmental impact
- Zero upward light design for obtrusive lighting control
- 3-day system autonomy using LiFePO₄ battery technology
- Reliable dusk-to-dawn performance in a remote, no-mains-power environment
- Continuous 24/7 CCTV network operation powered by solar infrastructure
The Challenge
The lighting and power system needed to:
- Deliver compliant rail corridor lighting suitable for shunting operations
- Provide reliable off-grid power for 24/7 network CCTV cameras
- Operate independently from mains infrastructure
- Minimise environmental impact and protect remote dark-sky conditions
- Maintain system reliability and autonomy in harsh Australian conditions
- Ensure consistent performance with minimal maintenance requirements
- Balance operational visibility with low-spill, low-glare lighting design
Lighting Strategy
Tigerlight’s in-house MIES-qualified engineers developed a fully integrated solar lighting strategy focused on safety, reliability and environmental performance.
Key design elements included:
- Design parameters aligned with AS 4282:2019 to manage glare and light spill
- 3000 K warm-white CCT selected to maintain operational clarity while reducing ecological impact
- Zero upward waste light configuration to preserve dark skies
- Solar Engine technology engineered to deliver dusk-to-dawn operation
- Integrated LiFePO₄ batteries sized to provide three days of system autonomy
- Lighting and power infrastructure designed to support both illumination and CCTV loads.
- The strategy ensured compliant lighting performance while delivering a fully autonomous off-grid solution.
The Solution
Tigerlight delivered a complete Solar Engine installation engineered for remote rail operations. Each pole incorporated a 12-metre lighting structure supporting t3 x175 W solar panels and three integrated 1,690 Wh LiFePO₄ batteries, powering an 80 W Tigerlight LED streetlight configured at 3000 K.
The Solar Engine platform provides reliable dusk-to-dawn illumination while simultaneously powering on-site network CCTV cameras, ensuring uninterrupted surveillance across the rail hub. The modular solar design eliminated the need for trenching, cabling, or connection to external power sources, reducing environmental disturbance, and simplifying installation.
By combining advanced solar harvesting, efficient LED technology and intelligent energy storage, Tigerlight delivered a future-ready lighting system capable of operating continuously in a remote, high-reliability environment.
Implementation
The installation involved:
- Deployment of integrated Solar Engine lighting systems across operational areas
- Precision positioning to maximise solar exposure and minimise light spill
- System modelling and lux verification to confirm compliant performance
- Integration of CCTV power supply within the solar infrastructure
- Configuration to achieve zero upward light and controlled distribution
- Full alignment with Australian Standards and Aurizon operational requirements
Key Results
Performance Outcomes
- Fully autonomous off-grid solar lighting system delivered
- 3-day battery autonomy using LiFePO₄ energy storage
- Continuous 24/7 CCTV operation powered by solar infrastructure
- Reduced environmental footprint with zero trenching or mains connection
Lighting Improvements
- Warm-white 3000 K lighting supporting dark-sky compliance
- Zero upward light design minimising off-site spill
- Stable dusk-to-dawn illumination for safer rail shunting operations
- Low-maintenance system engineered for remote deployment
