Solar LED lighting is a method of lighting off the grid, as many solar LEDs require no wires to function. Solid state lighting solutions such as LED have the ability to revolutionize the way we light our homes, businesses and roads. They can also help to solve the current global energy crisis.
Features
Solar LED lights are often used for lighting landscaping, pathways and gardens. They are also sometimes used in motion sensor lights and city and commercial lighting. The lights have a solar panel installed on top which charges a battery or a capacitor. LED lights require very little energy to function, so the lights can usually stay on all night without draining all the stored energy. Since solar LED lights are often used outdoors, many of them are waterproof.
Function
LED lights are semiconductor diodes that emit light when charged with electricity. The color they produce is different depending on their chemical composition. Therefore LED lights don't require a filter to produce a certain color of light. LEDs use far less electricity than incandescent and fluorescent lights. Solar LED lights are ordinary LEDs that have been connected with a photovoltaic cell with an energy storage method. Since LED lights can function efficiently using direct current, no energy conversion is necessary.
Benefits

After the initial costs are paid, solar-powered LED lighting produces light for free. Since they don't get their energy from the grid, they don't require cumbersome wires. They also help to reduce carbon dioxide emissions. Thus they are better for the environment than ordinary light sources. Also, solar LED lights usually don't need much maintenance. LED lights have a much longer lifespan than incandescent or fluorescent lights, which also saves money.
Potential
When the cost of solar-powered LED lights comes down, they will undoubtedly become much more popular. Solar LED lights have tremendous potential for energy conservation. In the future, we will probably see more solar LED lights on roadways, in homes, paths and gardens. The Energy Independence and Security Act of 2007 has mandated a significant increase in the efficiency of lighting devices. This will eliminate many energy-wasting incandescent bulbs from the market by 2012. The U.S. Department of Energy has also introduced a competition called the Bright Tomorrow Lighting Prize, offering millions of dollars of prize money for the development of highly efficient solid state LED lighting technology to replace incandescent light bulbs. These efforts will very likely improve the efficiency, availability and price of solar LED lighting products.
Considerations
Solar LED lights have a relatively high up-front cost. They are also affected by the quality of light that they're exposed to. On overcast days, the battery might not receive as much of a charge as on sunny days. This can run down the battery, affecting the quality and length of the light produced.