| Project name | led streetlighting replacement programme |
|---|---|
| Project lead | Aberdeen City Council |
| Partners | ERDF Scotland's eighth city programme |
| Cost/funding | £9million |
| Project type | Carbon reduction |
| Project timescale | Eight year rolling programme, completed in March 2024 |
Background
Aberdeen has about 37,000 streetlights that provide illumination for the safety and convenience of citizens, visitors, and commuters. However, the old streetlights were inefficient, expensive to run and maintain, difficult to inventory, and a drain on staff time. They also used a large amount of energy and contributed to our carbon footprint. In 2015 we decided to upgrade the streetlights to LED (light-emitting diode) technology, which is more energy-efficient, cost-effective, durable, and environmentally friendly. We also installed smart nodes on each streetlight to enable remote monitoring and control of the lighting system.
Outcomes
The project resulted in several positive outcomes, such as:
- Reduced energy consumption and greenhouse gas emissions: The LED streetlights consume 60% less energy than the old ones, saving about 400tCO2e per year. This helps us achieve our climate change targets and reduce our environmental impact. Initially the work was estimated to save £1 million per year, however with an increase in electricity prices, savings are now estimated at £5 million.
- Improved service delivery and efficiency: The smart nodes allow us to monitor the status and performance of each streetlight, detect faults, adjust brightness levels, and switch lights on and off remotely. This reduces maintenance costs, repair response time, improves reliability and safety.
Next Steps
We have plans to expand the opportunities this technology can bring. We are already looking into to the latest technologies in water monitoring, transport, parking, air quality, and winter maintenance.