Background
The Centenary Bridge Upgrade in Jindalee, Queensland is a major motorway infrastructure project designed to increase capacity and improve traffic flow across one of Brisbane’s busiest transport corridors.
The project required temporary roadway lighting to support staged construction across live traffic environments, bridge structures, and constrained median locations. Traditional approaches rely heavily on diesel generators or temporary grid connections, creating logistical, operational, and safety challenges.
Project Overview
Green Frog Systems was engaged to design, manufacture, and supply a large-scale deployment of Skybase-1000 solar lighting towers to support temporary and staged lighting requirements.
The solution needed to:
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Meet AS/NZS 1158 Category V3 roadway lighting requirements
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Operate independently of grid power
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Be rapidly deployed and relocated as construction staging evolved
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Perform reliably in a constrained bridge and motorway environment
A total of 22 Skybase-1000 units were deployed across the project.
Solution
Skybase-1000 Solar Lighting System
The Skybase-1000 is a high-output, relocatable solar lighting system engineered specifically for infrastructure and roadworks applications.
Each unit included:
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1 kW solar array with adjustable tilt (15–30°)
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20 kWh battery storage system
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KX1000LL smart solar controller with dual PV inputs
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Multi-directional pole configuration with outreach arms
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Zhaga photocell for automatic dusk-to-dawn operation
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Secure, lockable battery and control enclosure
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Integrated precast concrete ballast base (relocatable)
The system was designed to support standard AS/NZS-compliant roadway luminaires, allowing alignment with project lighting specifications.
Products Used
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Skybase-1000 Solar Lighting Tower
- KX1000LL Solar Controller
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Sylvania RoadLED Midi luminaires (V3 classification)
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Precast concrete ballast mounting system
Considerations and Challenges
Constrained Installation Environment
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Limited access on bridge structures
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Central median mounting requirements
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Live traffic interfaces
Temporary Works Requirements
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Lighting needed to be moved with staged construction
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Rapid deployment and commissioning required
Structural and Stability Requirements
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Wind loading considerations for elevated lighting systems
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Custom ballast sizing to suit site and region
Energy Performance
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Maintaining consistent overnight lighting performance
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Seasonal optimisation of solar collection
Results
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22 units deployed across the project
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Same-day commissioning achieved on site
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V3 roadway lighting compliance maintained
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Relocatable system adapted to staging changes
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Eliminate diesel generators for temporary lighting
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Silent operation, reducing site noise and fuel logistics
The system enabled compliant, high-output lighting without reliance on grid infrastructure or fossil fuelled generation.
Conclusion
The Centenary Bridge Upgrade demonstrates a shift in how temporary roadway lighting can be delivered on major infrastructure projects.
By replacing diesel-powered lighting systems with relocatable solar infrastructure, the project reduced logistical complexity while maintaining compliance and performance.
This project establishes the Skybase-1000 as a scalable solution for:
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Highway upgrades
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Temporary traffic staging
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Large-scale civil works
It represents a practical transition from fixed, fuel-dependent systems to adaptable, off-grid infrastructure designed to move with the project.
