The Brief
A mid-sized mining operator in Boyacá needed to light the perimeter of an open-pit extraction site that had no grid connection. Diesel generator floodlights had been the previous solution, but fuel costs averaged USD 4,200/month and the noise was a constant complaint from the neighboring community.
The brief:
- Replace diesel perimeter lighting
- 24-hour operation (mining runs day and night)
- Withstand high-altitude UV and seasonal heavy rain
- Delivery in 8 weeks — the mine had a permit renewal window
Our Solution
We proposed the BW-A 300W solar flood light with a custom battery pack sized for 18-hour autonomy at 70% brightness (sufficient for perimeter security without the diesel backup). The pole-mount brackets were custom-designed to fit the mine’s existing perimeter pole standards.
Numbers
- 120 units delivered in three 40-foot HQ containers
- 8 weeks from PO to first light (on schedule)
- Zero unscheduled downtime in the first 12 months
- Reported fuel saving: USD 3,800/month (~USD 45,600/year)
- Noise complaints from neighbors: dropped to zero
What Made the Project Work
- Pre-engineered battery sizing. Standard BW-A would have given 12-hour runtime. We upsized the battery pack at the factory to deliver 18-hour autonomy for the high-altitude, low-sun winter months.
- Anti-glare shields. Standard flood lights would have created glare complaints from a nearby village. We added custom anti-glare shields at no extra cost.
- Pole-mount integration with existing infrastructure. No new poles needed — the BW-A brackets fit the existing perimeter poles.
Client Feedback
“We had been told solar flood lights would not survive at 2,800 m altitude with the UV we get up here. The Xiuben team was the first supplier who actually showed up with a custom-engineered solution rather than a catalog pitch. Twelve months in, every unit is still running.”
— Site Engineering Manager
