New Marlin streetlights reduce energy consumption by 70%1, saving £33,0002 in operating costs and 633 tonnes of carbon at E.ON headquarters
Background
Since 2007 E.ON has been working with Advanced LEDs (ALED) to develop a low carbon LED streetlight to meet the stringent and demanding requirements of Private Finance Initiative (PFI) projects, tackling the issues of energy and carbon reduction.
Traditional streetlighting uses around 2% of all electricity generated in the UK, releasing over 1.2 million tonnes of carbon dioxide into the atmosphere each year. The development of the Marlin can help councils and private customers reduce the energy costs and carbon emissions associated with streetlighting. A programme of testing and field trials has been undertaken with learning’s incorporated into the development of the Marlin.
As the operator of the Staffordshire PFI we have also been able to incorporate our experience of managing streetlighting into the development process to deliver a practical solution for our customers.
The Trial
In July 2009, 10 Marlins were installed along a section of the perimeter road of the E.ON headquarters in Coventry, replacing the old SON lights on a like for like basis. During this time the energy consumption, lighting levels and overall performance of the lights was monitored. As lighting levels were significantly better due to the white light the trial was revised in September 2009.
Five Marlins were removed from this section of the road, leaving them active on every other column. These five were then installed on the remaining section of the road, replacing the remaining old SON lights.
The Findings
The trial installation of the Marlins at Westwood indicated that over a 25 year period the lights would deliver:
- A reduction in operating costs of £33,000
- A reduction in carbon emissions of 63 tonnes
- A 70% saving in energy consumption
- Improved colour rendition and CCTV imaging due to the white light produced by the Marlin
- Reduced light pollution and glare
- A reduction in the need for working at height due to the reduced maintenance requirements of the Marlin compared to the traditional SON lights
The Technology
The Marlin luminaire offers up to 50%4 reduction in carbon emissions and 70%5 in energy consumption while delivering, over its lifetime, levels of light comparable to those of traditional streetlights. The Marlin is a high performance S4 class luminaire which boasts a highly robust construction that is more resistant to impact vibration and vandalism than traditional streetlights.
The Benefits
- Up to 50%4 reduction in carbon dioxide emissions
- Energy savings of up to 70%5
- Unique 25 year guarantee
- Designed and manufactured in the UK
- LED life in excess of 150,000 hours
- White light source enabling enhanced CCTV imaging and colour rendition
- Minimum maintenance requirements and column visits over life, further reducing costs and carbon emissions
- Fully controllable (dimming and off/on)
- Generic thermally designed platform
- Best in class Chip set
Visit our infrastructure section to find out more about low carbon LED streetlighting and it's benefits and see the Marlin streetlights in action at
Ratcliffe Power Station. 1. Based on a burn time of 4,180 hours per lamp, per year, and a total contract period of 25 years. Total scheme energy consumption is based on 1,800w for the old scheme and 540w for the new LED scheme.
2. Cost savings based on 0.15 pence per kWh.
3. Carbon savings based on an emissions factor of 0.48kg/kWh.
4. These are indicative savings. Savings are site specific and will depend on the type of lighting scheme being replaced.
5. These are indicative savings. Energy savings are site specific and will depend on the type of lighting scheme being replaced.
