Businesses of all kinds have figured out how useful storage containers can be. Easy to move from point A to point B, they provide a dry, secure place to keep tools, materials, equipment, stock and other items. For increased convenience and safety, some models now feature solar-powered overhead lights to keep the container lit long after the sun has set or before the sun has risen.

Adequate light in or near a conventional storage container isn’t a given, especially on remote or off-grid jobsites and in parking lots where electricity isn’t available. Fumbling around in the dark with a flashlight to find what you need is not only disruptive but unsafe.

With a solar-lit container, a flip of a switch turns on an overhead light strip that runs the length of the container, transforming a dark box into a bright, navigable space.

Certain Pac-Van storage containers come with a solar panel on the roof that turns sunlight into electrical energy, which is stored in a rechargeable battery. The battery powers a light strip with 600 LEDs for up to eight hours, providing eco-friendly lighting outside of daylight hours and on a cloudy or rainy day.

Even when onsite power is available, buying or renting a solar-lit container can help companies reduce their carbon footprint as part of a shift to lower-emissions or zero-emissions equipment. Ultimately, even battery-powered equipment is only as green as the energy used to charge the batteries.

For contractors toiling in the wee hours, retailers grabbing stock after close of business or healthcare workers retrieving medical records when the sun is out of sight, reliable lighting is a valuable addition to storage containers. United Rentals rents solar-lit storage containers in two sizes: 20 feet x 8 feet x 8.5 feet and 40 feet x 8 feet x 8.5 feet. For added security, the solar-lit PV3 container features interior cam rods and 14-gauge steel walls with latches to keep intruders out.

With solar-lit containers, even more projects and end users can benefit — safely — from a little added space.

Browse our storage containers for rent or contact one of our storage container and mobile office experts to find a storage container that fits your needs.