The City of Karratha, located in Australia’s cyclone-prone northwest, posed a formidable challenge for off-grid public lighting. With some of the nation’s highest recorded wind speeds and extreme summer temperatures, conventional solar lighting systems were not fit for purpose. In 2016, Green Frog Systems was awarded the contract to deliver a solution tailored to these extreme conditions.
This presentation outlines the development and deployment of a customised Wind Region D version of the GFS-200 solar lighting system. Engineered to withstand wind speeds up to 262 km/h, the system was independently certified for structural resilience. Further innovations included secure enclosures and access controls to deter tampering and ensure system integrity. Through ongoing collaboration with the City of Karratha, more than 400 poles have now been installed and have withstood multiple cyclones in live field conditions.
We will present an overview of the technical, environmental, and logistical challenges encountered, and share product development insights that enhanced system performance and reliability. Attendees will gain first-hand results from this long-term deployment, including lessons relevant to infrastructure planning in other extreme-weather regions.
This project intersects all four key themes of IPWC25: sustainability, infrastructure asset management, applied public works, and innovation in technology.