There is provided a lighting system, comprising a control unit (10), a solar panel (20) for plugging into the control unit, and at least one light (32) connected to the control unit. The control unit comprises a control circuit (12), a battery bay for receiving at least one battery (16) that supplies battery power to the control circuit, and a socket (14) for receiving a plug (24) of the solar panel for supplying solar power to the control circuit. The control circuit (12) detects whether the solar panel is plugged into the control unit, and in response switches from a battery power mode in which the control circuit powers the at least one light from the battery power, to a solar power mode in which the control circuit powers the at least one light from the solar power, wherein the solar power mode is an energy saving mode which uses less energy in comparison to the battery power mode.