B.C. firm nabs landmark airfield contract for solar-powered signs

VICTORIA—British Columbia-based Carmanah Technologies is partnering with ADB Airfield Solutions to supply solar-powered LED signs to a major civil airport in Costa Rica, the first of its kind to elusively use solar-powered signs.

The rehabilitation project for Juan Santamaría International Airport in Costa Rica was originally specified for hard-wired LED signs.

When Belgium-based ADB—which has Canadian operations in Burlington, Ont.— pitched lucrative return on investment figures for solar signs that would reduce civil works expenditures and overall project cost with minimal disruption of aviation operations, plans changed.

Solar-powered signs work well for airfields that require immediate safety improvements and that have difficulty accessing the electrical grid. The signs consist of an ADB solar-powered sign and a solar engine power supply (SEPS) by Carmanah. The SEPS engine increases airfield navigability at night and in low-visibility conditions.

“The joint partnership of ADB and Carmanah was key to winning this project,” said Carmanah CEO Bruce Cousins. “Originally specified for grid-power LED signs, solar presented an economic and reliable solution that is being picked up by civil airfields around the world.”