• Figuration of solar panels, which will allow the creation of shaded areas
The uniqueness of this project lies in the use of large batteries to store the energy produced by photovoltaic panels, which can be used to power public lighting at night.
The development of this initiative, along with the simultaneous renovation of the public lighting in the district, represents a total investment of 1.5 million euros.
Councilor Julia Climent has estimated an 85% savings in the energy bill of the municipal services in the area, as well as the prevention of 32 tons of CO2 emissions into the atmosphere annually.
The solar panels will create shaded areas that can be used as parking spaces for vehicles.
The City Council is promoting a dual initiative that will enable the energy self-sufficiency of the public lighting services in El Perellonet. The Local Government Board has approved the Sunlight Project and the Self-Sufficient Public Lighting Project for the district, which will ensure that almost 100% of the energy consumed by municipal services in the area comes from photovoltaic panels. The total investment amounts to 1,487,786.47 euros.
Councilor Julia Climent explained that the implementation of both projects will allow the solar energy generated by the panels to meet all the energy needs of public lighting and municipal facilities in the district. Additionally, the project will serve to test energy savings estimates and the system’s autonomy capacity, with the aim of replicating it in other areas and districts of the city in the coming years.
It is estimated that the installation will generate around 250,000 kilowatt-hours of solar photovoltaic energy per year, which will meet the energy needs of both public lighting (150,000 kWh) and municipal facilities and services like traffic lights (100,000 kWh). Furthermore, potential uses for any excess energy generated are being considered. It is also worth noting that the solar panels will create a shaded area that can be utilized as a vehicle parking space.
Technical calculations indicate that the implementation of the Sunlight project in El Perellonet will result in an estimated 96% energy consumption reduction for municipal services (with the remaining 4% accounted for by cloudy winter days, which have longer nights and higher consumption, as well as shorter days with lower energy production, potentially requiring electricity from the grid). In terms of the energy bill, an 85% savings is expected, approximately 87,000 euros annually. In sustainability terms, Sunlight will prevent the emission of 32 tons of CO2 per year, leading to the complete decarbonization of municipal services with zero emissions into the atmosphere.
The approval of the projects by the Local Government Board marks the beginning of the contracting process, with a contract amounting to 1,490,000 euros, with the aim of commencing the construction works by the end of the current year, 2025. «So that the installation can be completed in the first half of 2026,» explained Julia Climent.
A Unique Project
The project is based on two distinct initiatives: the installation of solar photovoltaic panels (with an investment of 606,500 euros) and the renovation of all the lighting in the district (with an investment of 881,300 euros). In the former case, it involves the installation of photovoltaic panels with energy storage through batteries. In fact, as highlighted by Climent, the uniqueness of the project lies precisely in the use of these large batteries to store the energy produced by the photovoltaic panels, allowing this energy to be used to power public lighting at night.
For this purpose, solar panels will be installed on a 580 square meter (58m x 10m) canopy located in a parking area near Gaviotas Avenue (CV-500), at the intersection of Eslora Street. These panels will be connected to two batteries for energy storage, and the electricity they generate will be stored and injected into the grid during nighttime hours. This will offset the energy consumption of all public lighting in El Perellonet, and during the day, municipal facilities in the district will be powered by this energy.
Secondly, the Board has approved the project to renovate the public lighting in the district, which involves replacing the old road poles and other components with new streetlights and luminaries using ultra-warm LED technology. These new luminaires have a color temperature of 2,200K, with high luminous efficiency, reduced consumption, and low light pollution, characteristics particularly suitable for areas of high environmental value, such as the Devesa-Albufera Natural Park.
The project includes an increase in the number of lighting points in the district, lowering the height of the luminaires, and installing controllers for lighting management. In total, 277 old road poles will be replaced by 277 new streetlights, and 32 ornamental facade arms will be installed, totaling 441 new LED luminaires.
As explained by Councilor Julia Climent, the planned action also includes the renovation of a section of the public lighting in Pinedo; specifically, installing 14 new columns and 99 ornamental facade arms, with a total of 113 new LED luminaires.
To minimize electricity consumption, programmable LED drivers will be used for the luminaires: from power-up until 10:00 p.m., 100% of the nominal power; from 10:00 p.m. to midnight, 80% of the nominal power; and from midnight until shutdown, 50% of the nominal power.
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