Three Chinese solar street light makers target global smart lighting demand

A new overview highlights Cmoonlight, Unilumin, and Yankon as major Chinese suppliers of integrated solar street lights for roads, highways, and municipal projects. The article points to rising demand for off-grid lighting and says buyers are prioritizing durability, smart controls, and lower lifetime costs.

Why it matters: - Municipalities, highway authorities, and rural electrification projects are expanding demand for integrated solar street lights that are off-grid and low-maintenance. - The market is shifting toward smart solar street lights with IoT connectivity, auto-cleaning features, and output above 200 lumens per watt. - Buyers are under pressure to choose products that last longer and reduce total cost of ownership across road and public lighting projects.

What happened: - A June 10 overview from Shenzhen, China, highlighted three Chinese manufacturers active in integrated solar street lighting: Cmoonlight, Unilumin Group, and Zhejiang Yankon Group. - The article framed the three companies as suppliers for municipal engineering, road construction, highway service areas, and urban main road applications. - The release also pointed to China’s solar lighting export growth, saying exports accounted for more than 65% of global supply in 2025, based on industry estimates.

The details: - Cmoonlight, the brand of Shenzhen Moonlight Technology Co., Ltd., was established in 2010 and operates a 20,000-square-meter factory in Bao’an District, Shenzhen. - Cmoonlight employs 245 people and has an R&D team of 25 engineers. - Cmoonlight says annual output exceeds 120,000 units, and all sales are exported. - Cmoonlight markets all-in-one and integrated solar street lights, split solar street lights, and auto-cleaning solar street lights. - The company’s product line includes the patented foldable Palm Series and adjustable ST Series. - Cmoonlight says separating the LiFePO4 battery from the solar panel keeps internal temperatures up to 10°C lower than conventional products and can extend battery life beyond 15 years. - The Palm Series panel can tilt up to 30 degrees, which the company says boosts solar panel efficiency by 50% versus fixed-angle designs. - Cmoonlight says its products reach 200 lm/W LED efficacy using Cree or Philips chips and carry CB, CE, FCC, IP67, and IK10 certifications. - Cmoonlight supplied 2,080 units of the ST Series 120W integrated solar street light for a highway project in Chile. - Cmoonlight also supplied 980 Palm Series units for a city road project in Peru. - Unilumin Group is listed on the Shenzhen Stock Exchange under SZSE: 300232. - Unilumin generated revenue above RMB 7 billion in 2025, according to the article. - Unilumin operates a manufacturing base in Huizhou that covers more than 400,000 square meters. - Unilumin’s solar street lights are deployed in more than 50 countries, with a strong presence in Southeast Asia and Latin America. - Zhejiang Yankon Group, founded in 1975, is listed on the Shanghai Stock Exchange under SHA: 600261. - Yankon runs a 300,000-square-meter manufacturing facility in Shangyu, Zhejiang. - Yankon exports to more than 120 countries. - Yankon’s solar lighting division produces split and integrated solar street lights for road construction and highway service area projects. - Yankon says its supply chain is vertically integrated, including in-house LED chips and batteries. - Yankon’s high-brightness solar street lights reach 180 lm/W and include 5-year warranties.

Between the lines: - The three companies appear to occupy different market positions: Unilumin at scale with smart-city integration, Yankon with manufacturing control, and Cmoonlight with thermal-management and foldable-panel design. - The competitive focus is shifting from basic solar lighting to reliability, longevity, and smart control features that can justify higher upfront costs. - A cited 2025 Frost & Sullivan report projected 14.8% compound annual growth in the global integrated solar street light market from 2025 to 2030. - An independent analyst said buyers are increasingly trying to separate durable, high-performing products from low-cost alternatives, with certifications like CB and IK10 serving as signals in utility-scale tenders.

What’s next: - Demand is expected to keep rising as governments push green infrastructure in emerging markets. - Smart solar street lights with IoT control and auto-cleaning are likely to become more common in municipal procurement. - Suppliers that can prove battery longevity, high efficacy, and certification-backed durability may gain an edge in large tenders. - Cmoonlight is positioning itself for road lighting projects across urban main roads, highway service areas, and rural roads, supported by its claimed presence in more than 120 countries.

The bottom line: - Integrated solar street lighting is moving toward smarter, tougher, and more globally competitive products, and Chinese manufacturers are setting the pace.