Signify a world leader in lighting, is supporting Milton Keynes City Council in its long-term vision to create a sustainable city. Signify was selected to upgrade 18,000 existing streetlights to LED – enabling the city to introduce innovation in terms of performance, quality of light, and connectivity to its lighting assets – and contribute to their climate action goals.

The phased programme will be completed in 2024 and is expected save the council over 5 million kWh in energy usage, and £2 million in energy costs per year, following completion (based on average and estimated prices 2021-2025), as LED lighting uses up to 70 percent less energy when compared to the existing HID lighting. The reduction in ongoing energy costs is expected to pay for the project in full within 8 years. The LED upgrade will also increase visibility for motorists and pedestrians, and improve the quality of security camera footage, helping to improve the feeling of safety and deter criminal activity.

In 2019, Milton Keynes City Council committed to becoming carbon neutral by 2030, and carbon negative by 2050 – steps of which are laid out in their Sustainability Strategy 2019-2050.  They had already kicked off some climate action initiatives prior to this. In 2014, Milton Keynes City Council started delivery of the programme to modernise and upgrade its public lighting stock to low-energy LED; to reduce energy costs and carbon emissions, extend the life of its assets, and reduce maintenance and associated costs.  Then in 2022, due to the 88% increase in energy prices the council came under further revenue pressure for 2023/24, which led them to expand and accelerate the lighting upgrade programme to enable them to operate in the most cost-efficient manner.

Signify was selected as the lighting partner of choice based on several parameters. The technical specification of the proposed lighting solutions, the projected operational and energy cost savings, as well as carbon emission reductions.  In addition, Signify’s sustainability credentials as a responsible supplier played a large part.

Throughout February and March this year, and forming the main part of the roll-out of the project, a combination of ~18,000 Philips LumiStreet Gen2 and LumiStreet ECO LED lanterns were installed along roads and footpaths across the city – replacing the old, energy inefficient HID lanterns.  The Philips LumiStreet ECO was designed to specifically meet the needs of the UK market, and this project sees the first large roll-out across a city. In addition, in December 2023, 1,800 Philips TownTune urban decorative LED luminaires were installed, to improve the lighting across car parks, pedestrian walkways, and cycle paths.

For the installation, the council chose Philips luminaires in combination with Telensa’s cloud-based Central Monitoring System (CMS) that provides a fully functioning, controllable street lighting asset management system, capable of driving further energy savings.

Commenting on the LED upgrade, Cabinet Member for the Public Realm, Cllr Jennifer Wilson-Marklew said “This has been a significant project that will really help us to lower our energy consumption and tackle climate change in Milton Keynes. MK City Council is committed to moving towards our target of net zero by 2030 and being carbon negative by 2050. Reducing our streetlight energy consumption is a big part of that process.”

Milton Keynes City Councils’ service provider Ringway were responsible for the installation and management of the project.  They also undertake the management and maintenance of the largest portfolio of highways service contracts in the UK.

“Upgrading to LED technology helps reduce the carbon footprint of public lighting, while also saving on energy and maintenance costs – year on year. The lights are more efficient, can be targeted precisely where needed, and last much longer than conventional lanterns. What’s great is the connectivity that’s enabled with LED – they are programmable meaning they can be switched on only when needed, which extends the lifetime, and reduces the need for maintenance,” said Jonathan Watt from Ringway.

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The Haarstrang-Nord service area in the district Westbüderich in Werl, Germany, is a critical stop for long-haul truck drivers and travellers, has undergone a comprehensive modernisation. With nearly 100 new truck parking spaces, dedicated areas for buses and heavy goods vehicles, additional charging points, and a new restroom facility, the service area is now better equipped to meet contemporary needs. The lighting infrastructure has been upgraded to incorporate state-of-the-art LED technology, specifically designed to be both highly efficient and insect-friendly.

At the heart of this lighting upgrade is TRILUX’s Jovie 70 luminaire. Selected for its exceptional performance, the Jovie 70 is engineered to minimise environmental impact. Its intelligent design includes features such as IP66 certification to prevent insects from entering the fixture, a low operating temperature that avoids harming insects, and customised multi-lens technology (MLT IQ) that directs light precisely where it is needed, reducing stray light.

In consideration of local ecosystems, Autobahn GmbH, the organisation responsible for the refurbishment, chose a warm white light colour (3,000 Kelvin) for the Jovie 70 luminaires. This colour temperature is known to be less attractive to insects, thereby preserving the local flora and fauna. With 65 Jovie 70 LED luminaires now illuminating the site, the rest area achieves an optimal balance between safety and environmental conservation.

The success of the lighting project at Haarstrang-Nord has set a precedent, leading to the adoption of the same advanced lighting solution on the opposite side of the A44. This demonstrates TRILUX’s commitment to effective planning, execution, and responsive adaptation to client needs.

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The Connected Urban smart pole, strategically located near Cologne Cathedral and the central train station, is not just a high mast. It’s a symbol of today’s smart city innovation, that serves one of the city’s major fan zones on Konrad-Adenauer-Ufer. This advanced solution provides both high-performance lighting and robust 5G network capabilities, ensuring an enhanced mobile experience for thousands of football fans and city residents.

The successful installation of the CU Phosco Connected Urban smart pole in Cologne was a testament to the power of collaboration.

Telecommunications provider O₂ Telefónica, infrastructure specialist 5G Synergiewerk, NetCologne and energy provider RheinEnergie all played a crucial role in this achievement, demonstrating the strength of teamwork and shared vision.

The Connected Urban smart pole is designed to handle high bandwidth demands, offering seamless 5G and 4G/LTE connectivity for mobile telephony and data usage. This deployment ensures that Cologne’s mobile network is fully prepared to support the influx of visitors during the European Championship. In addition, O₂ Telefónica has implemented specific event parameters to optimise network performance during this high-demand period.

Matthias Sauder, Director of Mobile Access & Transport Networks at O₂Telefónica, expressed his enthusiasm: “With the 5G streetlight mast, we are offering an even better mobile network at Cologne Cathedral. Just in time for the European Football Championship, our customers in Cologne can look forward to additional network capacities. Football events frequently set new data records. Most recently, during the Champions League final, we exceeded the one million gigabytes per hour mark.”

Ralf Gerbershagen, Managing Director of 5G Synergiewerk GmbH, emphasised the collaborative effort behind the project: “We are proud of the new site in Cologne. At 19.3 meters high, we provide the most powerful 5G streetlight mast in Germany. This project is a great example of what can be achieved when all parties work together: We bring telecommunications providers, lighting technology experts and municipal utilities together to advance urban 5G expansion with innovative networking solutions.”

The Connected Urban smart pole is not just a temporary solution for the European Championship. It will remain a permanent fixture in Cologne, providing a high-performance mobile network for residents and visitors during major events, such as the annual Carnival, which attracts around 1.5 million visitors annually. This underscores its long-term value and contribution to the city’s infrastructure.

CU Phosco’s Connected Urban smart pole is a modular and fully customisable solution that integrates high-performance lighting and mobile network technology within a single, compact footprint. Replacing a conventional lamp post, this innovative intelligent pole leverages existing infrastructure to deliver both essential urban lighting and advanced telecommunications capabilities. Available up to 20 metres tall, as standard, it offers a greater range for mobile coverage, ensuring improved network reliability and seamless connection on the nationwide O₂ network via a dedicated fibre-optic link.

This installation in Cologne is part of O₂ Telefónica’s broader initiative to deploy 5G streetlight masts across Germany, following successful installations of Connected Urban in Frankfurt am Main and Würzburg. These medium cells enhance the existing mobile network by providing additional capacity at specific urban points. The 5G streetlight masts, including the one in Cologne, handle around 300 gigabytes of mobile data volume daily, supporting high-bandwidth and low-latency applications essential for digital innovation.

Keith Henry, CU Phosco Australia’s General Manager and Telecommunications Product Manager, commented: “We are proud to play a role in this groundbreaking initiative, helping to find a comprehensive answer to a growing problem in built-up urban cities. Connected Urban offers a tidy solution for municipalities in these situations, ticking many urban infrastructure boxes.”

Photo credit: Copyright 5G Synergiewerk | pido media.

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Whether a visitor or resident, nothing is more frustrating than losing signal, and with the increasing demands on digital infrastructure, including music and video streaming, the Metaverse, AI-based programs, augmented and virtual reality, and connected driving and autonomous logistics, the frequency of this occurring is only increasing.

Würzburg city has taken a significant step towards improving the quality of life for its residents and businesses. In a recent pilot project CU Phosco Lighting with its German partner, 5G Synergiewerk, the first 5G Connected Urban smart poles were installed in collaboration with telecommunications provider O2 Telefónica and the Würzburg public utilities, reducing signal issues and enhancing connectivity.

Replacing conventional lamp posts, the innovative solution efficiently utilises existing infrastructure and grid connections to provide citizens with night-time lighting and advanced telecommunications capabilities, setting a new standard for high-performance 4G and 5G mobile connectivity.

Keith Henry, CU Phosco Australia General Manager and Telecommunications product manager commented, “Connected Urban offers a transformative solution for local authorities and asset owners seeking a multi-functional structure which offers both functionality and aesthetic appeal, whilst delivering increased capacity and densification of the 4G and 5G networks at street level.”

Connected Urban is a smart city, modular, and fully customisable lighting and medium cell high-performance mobile network solution within a single, compact footprint. It offers an alternative to more traditional rooftop or cell phone mast locations. The installation marks a significant milestone in the evolution of street-level mobile network densification.

Matthias Sauder, Director of Mobile Access & Transport Networks at O2 Telefónica, said, “The 5G streetlights are an innovative approach to further improve the mobile network in Würzburg. These small cells have a big impact. They complement our local O2 mobile network and ensure an improved network experience for our customers when using mobile telephony and data.”

The deployment of Connected Urban has introduced a new era of mobile network infrastructure in Würzburg. The small cells embedded within streetlights have improved the local O2 mobile network, ensuring an enhanced user experience.

The collaborative efforts in this project have positively impacted the innovation drive and improved the quality of life for city residents and businesses.

Ralf Gerbershagen, Managing Director of 5G-Synergiewerk GmbH, comments, “The entire project is a good example of what can be achieved when everyone involved pulls together: the Würzburg public utilities, the city of Würzburg, and O2 Telefónica; we were all a good team and able to implement the project very quickly.”

For further information, please visit www.cuphosco.com.

Photo credit: Copyright 5G Synergiewerk | Sven’s Bildwerke

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Founded in 1985, the Shekhar Group has a diverse portfolio across various sectors, including Aviation and Fire and Rescue. Like CU Phosco Lighting, Shekhar Group’s extensive experience includes full turnkey services including supply and installation.

With their widespread reach within Nepal, they make an ideal partner for CU Phosco Lighting’s expansion into the Nepalese market. With a commitment to excellence and a proven track record of success, Shekhar Group aligns perfectly with CU Phosco Lighting’s vision for growth and customer satisfaction.

Commenting on the collaboration, Chris Marques, Business Development Manager at CU Phosco Lighting, expressed enthusiasm, stating, “We are delighted to join forces with Shekhar Group as our agent partner in Nepal. Their deep-rooted presence and strong reputation in the Nepalese market are sure to complement our goal of providing innovative lighting solutions to customers across the region.”

Managing Director Skand Amatya, also commented on the partnership, saying, “For over 35 years, we have been devoted to providing our clients with high professional standard products from reputed manufacturers. We are thrilled to add CU Phosco Lighting to our portfolio”.

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Nestled along England’s captivating East Anglian coast, Suffolk is a county that boasts picturesque landscapes, charming villages, and a rich historical heritage. With Ipswich as one of its oldest towns, Suffolk’s history can be traced back to the Stone Age, making it a living testament to the UK’s enduring past. The county’s diverse architectural styles, from ancient structures to eclectic designs, showcase its rich heritage.

In line with national climate initiatives, Suffolk County Council embarked on a mission to transition its street lighting infrastructure to LED to reduce carbon emissions and save costs. Having already succeeded in upgrading its functional lighting, the council turned its attention to its iconic decorative luminaires.

Supplying via Mark Bailey Associates both businesses worked with Bouygues Energies and Services to deliver Heritage lighting solutions for the relighting project.

Acrospire collaborated with the council’s contractors to provide a comprehensive solution, supplying 2,500 heritage luminaires. On a like-for-like basis, these schemes comprised a complementary blend of Muirfield, Streetcare and Birkdale lanterns, carefully selected to meet the project’s diverse requirements.

The Muirfield Lantern, a quintessential representation of a traditional 4-sided post-top lantern, seamlessly marries timeless aesthetics with modern LED technology. This transformation preserves the classic appeal of gas lantern aesthetics while entering an energy-efficient era of unprecedented energy savings.

On the other hand, the Birkdale Heritage Lantern takes the legacy of traditional fixtures to new heights by embracing cutting-edge LED technology. It captures the essence of traditional design while championing energy efficiency, a key project goal.
Blending with the two Victorian styled lanterns, Streetcare a compact post top, finishes the classic heritage appearance, complementing Suffolk’s mix of architecture. Crafted from the best British materials, each lantern epitomises quality and durability.

James Brooker, Area Sales Manager (South East) at Acrospire, commented, “Our success in this project can be attributed to our unwavering dedication to delivering energy savings. In a world of choices, it boiled down to three fundamental factors: cost-effectiveness, unmatched 12-year warranties, and a product that resonated with our partners. We take immense pride in the satisfaction expressed by our clients, who have found our heritage range ideal for their stunning part of the world.”

Acrospire’s heritage lighting upgrade contributed to the project’s overall savings. The remarkable achievement of a 76 percent reduction in energy usage translates into substantial benefits for Suffolk County Council, amounting to £1.7 million in annual electricity cost savings. These impressive results underscore the effectiveness of Acrospire’s approach in harmonising heritage aesthetics with cutting-edge technology to deliver industry-leading energy efficiency.

Richard Webster, Asset Manager – Street Lighting at Suffolk County Council/Suffolk Highways and Project Director Adept Live Labs praised the project’s outcomes, saying, “The transition to these state-of-the-art heritage LED lanterns represents another significant stride toward our mission of reducing lighting energy expenditure. As we continue to embrace these innovations, they bring us closer to our overarching commitment to become a carbon-neutral organisation by 2030.

Acrospire’s 12-year warranty further solidifies our confidence in the durability of this British-made product, made possible through the assembly of components within a 60-mile radius of their factory. It’s a testament to what we are trying to achieve here in Suffolk.”

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The EVIS Pillar Range is a forward-thinking solution in the EV infrastructure and highways sector, purpose-built to meet the increasing demand for accessible, safe, secure, and dependable EV charging networks. With a diverse selection of over 80 standard designs and incoming supply ratings ranging from 100A to 630A, supporting 7kW to 150kW EV charge points, EVIS is designed to cater to a wide range of EV charging needs, from on-street charging to fast-charging hubs.

Managing Director, John Fox, commented: “Receiving the Most Innovative Product of the Year award from the HEA is a significant recognition, and reflective of the team’s hard work and vision to simplify specification and accessibility for both DNO and private applications”.

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First launched at the 2022 HEA Annual Conference, Aeromax, developed in partnership with Green Frog Systems, is a standalone, solar-powered luminaire and energy storage system capable of powering not just lighting but also Smart City devices, including sensors and CCTV.

The Build Back Better initiative, launched in 2021, champions innovation, creativity, environmental leadership and social purpose. The awards are judged by sector-specific experts, including seasoned practitioners, specifiers, academics, scientists, and industry end users. The diverse panel rigorously assessed Aeromax based on its innovation, unique attributes, and transformative potential within the sector.

When asked about this prestigious recognition, Acrospire’s Technical Director, Neil Purdue, expressed his excitement: “We are thrilled to receive the Build Back Better Green Award for Aeromax. A GREEN rating is reserved for products designed and manufactured with a strong focus on environmental responsibility, underscoring our dedication to UK tried and tested sustainable solar lighting. A lighting designer’s dream, we believe in creating products that not only meet the needs of our clients (market-leading autonomy and photometric flexibility) but also contribute to a greener future.”

As customers continue to face environmental challenges, including meeting net zero targets, environmentally friendly solar lighting not only aligns with the principles of the circular economy but also serves as a benchmark for others in the industry to follow.

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“We are excited to partner with VolkerHighways and Luton Council on this project,” said Acrospire Area Sales Manager James Brooker. “Our Defender solar street lighting is the perfect solution for these public spaces, as it provides clean, efficient, and sustainable lighting that will benefit the community for years to come.”

The Defender solar street light is designed specifically for the UK market and features several innovative technologies that make it ideal for public spaces. The passive lanterns automatically come on at night and remain at 20 percent brightness until someone is within 15 metres on either side of the streetlight, where it then switches to full power. Each streetlight is evenly spaced 30 metres apart, and the units require no maintenance other than cleaning every few years. Defender can be provided with the SAM (Solar Asset Monitoring) system, which allows the maintenance team to remotely monitor the light’s performance, identify potential faults, and adjust the brightness settings.

This installation isn’t just about saving energy and reducing carbon emissions; it’s also focused on creating safer and more inviting public spaces. David Easton, Operations Director for VolkerHighways, said: “Solar Street lighting provides continuous light while saving optimal energy and light pollution. It’s great to see Luton Council making use of these eco-friendly innovations. The parks are now well-lit, making the areas safer for park users and residents.”

Cllr Javed Hussain, the portfolio holder for Sustainable Development and Highways, said, “Every action we take as a council matters when it comes to reducing our town’s carbon emissions. Installing zero carbon street lighting in these areas will save emissions and money and help keep our residents safe at night.”

The installation of the Defender in Luton is part of a broader trend of municipalities and businesses adopting solar street lighting solutions. Solar street lighting is a cost-effective and sustainable way to light public spaces, and it can help to reduce energy consumption, carbon emissions, and light pollution.

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