Solidel’s Solar Streetlights: A Quebec Success Story
In Drummondville, a small team is turning to solar to light the streets. Solidel, led by entrepreneur Samuel Tremblay, has developed a versatile solar streetlight system that is finding homes across Quebec. A four-person crew designs, assembles, and installs the lights, produced in two Drummondville facilities. The company’s acquisition four years ago has been followed by rapid growth, with last year’s sales volume quadrupling and orders arriving from villages to larger towns alike.
Solidel’s reach extends across the province. Tremblay notes that lights are deployed from Fermont in the north to Abitibi, with a strong footprint around Montreal, Laval, and Drummondville—a sign of growing municipal interest in green, reliable public lighting.
Flexible Lighting for Municipal Needs
The technology behind Solidel’s streetlights is designed to adapt to each municipality’s requirements. Brightness can be tuned, the mounting height adjusted, and every unit sits on a portable concrete base that can be relocated as urban plans evolve. This is not garden-variety solar lighting; the design prioritizes resilience and scalability. Even on days with little sun, the system can illuminate for seven nights in a row on a single battery, making it a practical choice for remote or less sunny areas.
Beyond aesthetics, the lights address real public safety and infrastructure needs. Municipalities can use solar streetlights to illuminate streets, parks, and sports facilities while reducing energy costs and maintenance efforts. The modular approach also enables easier upgrades as LED technology improves or as a city’s lighting plan changes.
Green Ambitions and the Grid
As Tremblay puts it, cities and municipalities are increasingly pursuing greener solutions and gradually reducing dependence on the traditional electric grid. The broader conversation in Quebec about grid resilience and clean energy aligns with Solidel’s goals. Hydro-Québec and provincial authorities have emphasized the importance of collective action to transition toward sustainable urban lighting, and Solidel’s flexible, battery-backed systems fit into that strategy by offering reliable performance even during grid interruptions.
A Bright Outlook for Quebec’s Solar Future
With growing demand and a robust local supply chain in Drummondville, Tremblay is optimistic about the future of solar in Quebec. Solidel’s expansion into remote regions like Fermont and Abitibi, along with a strong presence near major urban centers, demonstrates a healthy trajectory for solar streetlights in the province. The company’s recent growth signals a broader market readiness to embrace solar-powered public lighting as a cornerstone of municipal sustainability plans. Tremblay believes there is a bright future for solar energy in Quebec, and his team is helping to light the way for cleaner, smarter cities.
Conclusion
Solidel’s solar streetlights exemplify how municipalities can align practical lighting needs with green innovation. In Drummondville and across Quebec, the project shows that solar technology can adapt to local realities, reduce grid dependence, and brighten public spaces with a smaller environmental footprint.
