about project
Burgas Municipality is implementing the project BGENERGY-2.001-0072-C02 “Modernisation of the system of street lighting in 22 zones, including main road thoroughfares within the city of Burgas”.
The main purpose of the project is to improve the energy efficiency of the street lighting within the city through implementation of measures related to renovation of the lighting infrastructure”.
Specific project goals are:
- Reduce energy consumption and dependence on energy suppliers, by implementing measures to reduce carbon dioxide emissions and achieve energy and financial savings;
- Increase the expert capacity in the field of energy efficiency and energy management, through the exchange of knowledge and experience between the Norwegian partner and the Municipality of Burgas;
- Increase the public awareness of all stakeholders regarding energy management and the contribution and impact of aid from donor countries.
Project activities:
- Renovation of the street lighting system of 22 zones, including main road thoroughfares of Burgas – full replacement of 2623 light fittings; renovation of 98 control panels for the lampposts network and 134 light poles; installation of 24 solar powered LED luminaires on pedestrian crossings; partial modernisation and upgrade of the existing automated system for management and control of the street lighting;
- Exchange of good practices with Norsk energi – partner from Norway – holding a seminar with the participation of Norsk Energi project partner dedicated to sustainable energy management and energy efficiency of street lighting;
- Information and publicity;
- Audit of all expenditure under the project.
Partner: Norsk Energi; https://energi.no/
Expected outputs:
- CO2 emissions savings of 1328,66 tCO2/annually;
- Energy consumption reduction of 1 123 038 kWh/annually;
- Financial savings – 197 048,25 BGN (100 000,00 EUR)/ annually;
- Improved air quality and quality of life of citizens and visitors of the city of Burgas.
Grant agreement № BGENERGY-2.001-0072-C02/02.03.21
Budget: 2 004 498.00 BGN
Project duration: 02 March 2021 – 02 September.2022
The implementation of the project will contribute for the achievement of the following specific objectives:
Funded by: Renewable Energy, Energy Efficiency, Energy Security Programme of European Economic Area Grants (EEA Grants) 2014-2021
THE CHALLENGE
It’s been a while since artificial light allowed us to see in the dark. We can now illuminate the homes we live in, our workspaces and, of course, the streets we walk or drive down. Today, street lighting is a major part of the infrastructure of settlements worldwide. Every night, the street lights should light up at the right time, function smoothly and provide citizens with safer traffic conditions, more comfortable pedestrian environment and more beautiful architectural, touristic and commercial feel/perception of the city.
COSTS FOR MUNICIPALITIES
At the local level, the municipal authority is responsible for providing street lighting as a key public service for the safety of citizens. However, the installation and maintenance of this service is far from cheap. On average, 40% of energy bills in public budgets are spent on street lighting alone. The rising cost of energy, plus significant maintenance costs and ever-increasing public expectations, put continuous pressure on lighting budgets.
ENVIRONMENT
The issue of high energy consumption is not only a local problem. Public lighting, called the “nervous system of a city,” connects hundreds of millions of street light fittings with access to electricity around the world. Their number is constantly increasing, making the street lighting responsible for a stunning 19% of global electricity consumption, accumulating huge levels of CO2 emissions. Given the UN’s prediction that 68% of the world’s population will live in urban areas by 2050, the challenge of protecting cities’ limited resources becomes increasingly pressing. Municipalities are challenged to create a safe environment for their current and future residents while being at the same time energy and cost efficient.
THE SOLUTION
LED Lighting
The main purpose of smart street lighting is to better illuminate roads, pavements and parking spaces to ensure the safety of citizens. In order to ensure the visual safety of drivers and pedestrians, intelligent lighting must meet specific parameters of illuminance, uniformity and glare depending on the specific environment. Currently, LED technology is among the most popular used to provide high-quality, efficient lighting.
- • The abbreviation LED comes from the light-emitting diodes that LED bulbs use to produce light.
- An incandescent light bulb converts about 9-10% of the energy supplied to it into light, while LEDs convert almost 100% of the energy they consume into light.
- LEDs do not contain any mercury and over 95% of them can be recycled.
- LEDs have very long life. If a light bulb is turned on and never turned off, it will take three years to burn out.
- According to the US Department of Energy, mass LED installation could save 348 TWH of energy by 2027. That’s enough energy to power 44 large power plants, which would save over $30 billion.
Community benefits
More sustainable cities and a cleaner environment. By reducing energy consumption and the amount of CO2 emitted, the city’s impact on the environment is reduced in accordance with increasingly demanding environmental norms and regulations. LED lighting significantly reduces light pollution, which affects migrating birds and wildlife in general.
Saves money for your community. Energy costs are instantly reduced by up to 80% (with LED lighting) through smart on/off, progressive dimming and efficient energy management. Total operational costs are reduced by up to 42% through detailed maintenance and preventive network interventions based on system-generated reports.
Increases the quality of lighting. The intelligent street lighting system helps to avoid almost completely the risk of accidents due to a malfunction of the lighting system. Most lighting problems are discovered and fixed before citizens even get a chance to notice them.
Street lighting plays a central role in how people feel about their city or village. That is why urban and rural lighting has evolved from fully functional lighting into a more demanding and creative predisposing one. Programs for urban development and regeneration of aging, derelicted and impoverished areas helped support this demand for urbanization. The role of lighting should not only consist of providing safety and orientation for people while driving, cycling or walking, but should also ensure pleasant and attractive environment. It should favor communication and well-being, encouraging night-time socialization and complementing the city’s nightlife. Luminaires and poles in the urban areas, constituting street and road lighting also have an architectural importance. During daytime they become an integral part of the street, and at night they create an atmosphere and an inspiring environment. There is a clear desire by citizens and politicians to give the city back to the citizens and to restore the quality of city life. Lighting infrastructure is perceived not only as functional lighting zones, but also as urban furnishing for a certain part of the urban landscape. Lighting zones should contribute to the city’s attractiveness: improving the architectural scape and creating a unique atmosphere. The aesthetics of lighting fixtures become more important than the technical characteristics. Luminaires and posts must form a coherent system with consistent design and perfect integration.THE FUTURE
What is next?
Smart street lighting is the backbone for the smart cities of the future. Connecting more than 360 million street lights worldwide, smart street lighting systems transform the lighting network of cities into one centrally controlled network. With constant access to electricity, street poles are ideal for mounting smart city systems such as security cameras, environmental sensors, traffic counters or electric vehicle chargers. By connecting each light pole to a wider network connection, each lamp post becomes an IoT-ready installation platform that will act as a binder for wider smart city investments.