LED lighting technology in road tunnels, Madeira, Portugal - ENNEREG Good Practice in Energy Efficient Products

This intervention consists in improving three tunnels in the core of Funchal City, namely the Cruz Vermelha tunnel, Hortas and Campo da Barca. There were essentially two types of intervention: one intervention regarding the repair of the existing cracks in the tunnel walls caused by seepage of water and the other intervention regarding the new infrastructure of lighting, consisting in the replacement of the existent lighting system by LED, thus improving lighting efficiency.
These are the first tunnels in Portugal that use LED technology in public lighting.

Summary

[EN - English]

These are the first tunnels in Portugal that use LED technology in public lighting.

Aims and Objectives

The main goals of the intervention focused in ensuring road safety and in the improvement of lighting system efficiency in the tunnels with the application of LED lighting technologies in public lighting.

With the application of LED technology a reduction in energy consumption is expected, estimated in about 35% compared with the traditional solution of sodium vapour lamp, associated with a reduction of CO₂ emissions.

A reduction of the maintenance costs is also anticipated, since the LED lamps have a longer life, without reducing efficiency, and allowing even greater security by the optimization of the lamps.

Results and Impacts

The improvement of lighting system efficiency in the Cruz Vermelha and Hortas tunnels.

In the Cruz Vermelha tunnel:

150 luminaires of sodium vapour lamp of 400W, 250W, 150W and 100W, with a total power of 30 800W, were replaced by 194 LED luminaires with a total power of 19 348W throughout its length of 437 m long and 8 m wide.

In the Hortas tunnel:

134 luminaires with sodium vapour lamp with the power 400W, 250W, 150W and 100W, with a total power of 29 200W were replaced by 173 LED luminaires with a total power of 18 466W over its entire length of 291 m long and 8 m wide.

Technical and Financial Implementation

The new technology used is called T-Line with a high quality power LED. It was implemented over the entire length and width in both tunnels.

The first intervention took place in Cruz Vermelha tunnel in the second semester of 2011 with a cost of €150 000. The second intervention took place in Hortas tunnel in 2012 and cost of €140 000.

The first monitored figures showed a significant reduction of electricity consumption and energy costs:

In the Cruz Vermelha tunnel: the reduction of the annual energy is about 100 320 kWh/year, with a monthly average saving in costs of €3 200 in the year 2011, and €1600 in 2012.
In the Hortas tunnel: the reduction of the annual energy is about 94 030 kWh/year that lead to savings of about €1000 per month in 2011, and €950 per month in 2012.

Stakeholder

CMF - City Hall of Funchal

Lessons Learnt

With this kind of technology it is possible to reduce the energy consumption and C02 emissions, reducing energy and maintenance costs, and increasing the safety of the users with a high level of comfort.

How this Action could be Replicated

LED technology can be adopted in other existing tunnels or implemented from scratch in new structures of its kind. It can also be used in other regions, as significantly reduces energy consumption while maintaining the safety and comfort of all users.

Related Information on the Regions 202020 Website:

Sustainable Energy Theme(s): Energy Efficient Products : Sustainable transport and mobility management
Region(s)/Community(ies): PT: Madeira :
Country(ies): Portugal

Last updated: 15/04/2013 4:19pm - Contact: Claudia HENRIQUES -