Edinburgh deploys smart streetlights as part of energy efficiency programme 

Smart streetlight controls are being deployed in 64,000 LED lights across Edinburgh as part of the city’s energy efficiency programme. As well as reduced running and maintenance costs, wireless connectivity will allow the lamposts to act as smart city sensors.

Cambridge-based smart city applications firm Telensa announced that it had been selected by CGI, the company appointed by City of Edinburgh Council to undertake its digital transformation, for an LED replacement contract run by infrastructure services supplier Amey.

Telensa’s ‘PLANet’ is a wireless central management system (CMS) that enables centralised remote control of the city’s lighting. It consists of wireless nodes connecting individual lights, dedicated wireless connectivity, and a central management application. The deployment is underway and is expected to complete by the end of 2020.

“PLANet provides real-time monitoring to identify and track faults,” said the company in a statement, “which will cut the number of residents’ complaints about broken street lights and remove the need for street lighting staff to undertake night-time patrols to identify faulty lights.”

It also measures actual energy consumption, submitting information directly to the meter administrator and increasing the accuracy of energy billing. The company said the system pays for itself in reduced energy and maintenance costs, improves quality of service, and enables lamposts to act as hubs for smart city sensors.

“We are rolling out energy efficient street lights with smart remote controls to communities right across the capital, continuing on a ward-by-ward basis until the end of 2020,” said Edinburgh’s transport and environment convener Lesley Macinnes.

“We’re making every effort to minimise disruption to residents and businesses throughout and will target information to communities as the roll-out comes to their area.”

Will Gibson, founder and chief commercial officer at Telensa, added: “We are working with our partners in Edinburgh to deliver an efficient and smart street lighting control system, one that will be responsive to citizens’ needs for decades to come,.

“We’re looking forward to working together build a new generation of smart city applications, all enabled by the city’s lighting network.”

Justene Ewing, VP consulting services and partnership director for CGI at the City of Edinburgh Council, added: “We are delighted to be working with Telensa to unlock the efficiency gains and smart city potential of connected street lighting.

“This project is another step in our long-term digital transformation of public services throughout Edinburgh.”