A Hospital Car Park Illuminated Entirely by Solar Energy
La Chaux‑de‑Fonds (NE), Suisse
The Neuchâtel Hospital Network (RHNE) modernised and expanded the parking facility at the La Chaux-de-Fonds Hospital. To avoid extensive civil works related to cable installation and to reduce operating costs, the project owner selected an autonomous solar lighting solution capable of delivering reliable lighting throughout the night.
In this demanding hospital environment, Viteos SA, responsible for the installation works, focused on ensuring safety, aesthetic consistency, and long-term sustainability.
Project Objectives
- Provide complete and uniform night-time lighting, even under challenging weather conditions.
- Reduce costs through no cabling, no trenching, and minimal maintenance requirements.
- Select a solar luminaire with a modern design, without an exposed solar panel mounted above the pole.
- Maintain a unified aesthetic appearance throughout the entire parking area.
- Ensure compatibility with EXEDRA, Schréder’s smart lighting management platform.
This project therefore required a solar lighting solution that was reliable, high-performing, and aesthetically consistent.
Installed Solution: VERTICALIS, the Benchmark for Solar Lighting
To meet all these requirements, Schréder Swiss SA installed the VERTICALIS range, a high-performance solar luminaire designed to operate autonomously 365 days a year.
Key Features of VERTICALIS
- Four high-efficiency vertical solar panels for optimal energy harvesting, regardless of orientation.
- An integrated, elegant, and discreet design, ideal for sensitive public environments such as hospitals.
- Optimised electronics ensuring full lighting throughout the night.
- A cable-free installation, enabling rapid deployment without disrupting site operations.
- Native EXEDRA compatibility, allowing future implementation of smart lighting management capabilities.
Installation
The final project includes:
7
Single VERTICALIS
15
Double VERTICALIS
8
metres mounting height
3000 K
Colour temperature for optimal visual comfort
This configuration ensures uniform lighting coverage, ideally suited to a parking area, and fully complies with Swiss outdoor lighting standards for traffic and parking zones.
Why was VERTICALIS chosen?
- Outstanding Energy Performance
VERTICALIS has proven its ability to provide continuous lighting throughout the night thanks to its high-efficiency vertical photovoltaic panels. - Modern and Uniform Design
The absence of a traditional “solar panel canopy” and the slim luminaire design were key factors in ensuring a consistent visual appearance across the entire parking area. - Reliability, Autonomy and Innovation
The possibility of integrating EXEDRA in the future further enhances the project's technological value and long-term scalability. - Local Expertise from Schréder Swiss SA
From the photometric study to the final adjustments, our team supported the project from start to finish, ensuring a tailor-made solution perfectly suited to the site's requirements.
Result
The RHNe parking facility in La Chaux-de-Fonds now benefits from a 100% autonomous lighting solution that is sustainable, efficient and high-performing. It eliminates grid-related infrastructure costs while providing optimal visual comfort for patients, visitors and hospital staff.
Today, this project stands as one of the most emblematic solar lighting references in Switzerland, demonstrating the relevance and effectiveness of integrated solar solutions in demanding environments.
