Airports approve new infrastructure only when it demonstrates that it can meet their requirements under local conditions — technical claims alone are not enough to justify an airfield lighting investment.
For solar airfield lighting, that means verifying performance in the airport’s own environment: its weather, traffic patterns, and procedures. For airport operators, it is a question of availability, safety, maintenance risk, and long-term infrastructure investment.
The S4GA Free Trial Program helps airport teams move from assumptions to validation.
Teams can test solar AGL under real-world conditions, gather performance data, and make decisions based on actual results — rather than guessing whether a sustainable solution suits their operations.
Introducing a new airfield lighting system often raises practical questions. How will it perform throughout the year? Will it meet the airport’s operational needs? Can the airport rely on it in the long term?
If the system can’t provide the required lighting when needed, it could lead to disruptions, flight restrictions, or unplanned maintenance costs. Before committing to an investment, airport operators need confidence that the system will perform as expected in their own environment.
The S4GA Free Trial Program was created to give that confidence. It combines a feasibility assessment with on-site validation, giving airport teams the information and firsthand experience they need to evaluate solar airfield lighting.
The trial includes:
Before any on-site validation begins, airports determine whether solar AGL is technically suitable for their location through the Feasibility Study by SALA.
The study assesses whether a solar airfield lighting system can operate year-round under local conditions, using a SALA-standardized methodology based on PVGIS from the European Commission and real weather data.
S4GA delivers and installs solar airfield lights at the airport in a selected area — no CAA approval required. The airport evaluates its behaviour under local weather, traffic levels, and site-specific environmental factors.
For airport operators, this means no disruption to existing operations. The process allows the team to get a clear understanding of the system, and the operator to make an informed decision based on their firsthand experience.
The airport team receives a detailed performance report, helping them evaluate how the system functioned under the specific conditions of the installation site.
All data throughout the trial is collected by the Airfield Lighting Control and Monitoring System (ALCMS) provided in the Free Trial Program kit. It continuously monitors the AGL network, from charging efficiency to battery performance.
Many airports across the world have tested S4GA solar airfield lighting through the Free Trial Program, including in the UK, Australia, South America, and Africa.
A USAF airbase joined the Free Trial Program to test a reliable lighting solution for critical military objectives.
The 70-day evaluation focused on continuous 24/7 operation under different scenarios. The system showed stable performance, with battery levels averaging 75–80%, meeting the airbase’s expectations during extended use.
“The S4GA solar airfield lights exhibited exceptional performance, proving to be a redundant and reliable lighting solution for military runway operators.“
– Operations Flight Commander, USAF
An airport in Wales tested the system in challenging weather, including frequent rain, fog, and high cloud cover. The test confirmed that the system met the airport’s requirements in the regional environment.
“I wouldn’t have decided on solar without the trial… I was very impressed with the results.“
– Airport Manager at Swansea Airport, UK
Before investing in a new system or technology, every operator wants to be confident it is making the right choice. However, because every airport operates under different weather conditions, traffic levels, and infrastructure constraints, that confidence cannot come from specifications alone.
The S4GA Free Trial Program allows airports to verify system performance in their own environment before making an investment decision. Rather than approving solar airfield lighting because of technical claims, airports approve it because it performs as expected and meets their requirements.
