Cambridge-based smart city applications company, Telensa, has announced that its smart streetlight controls will be deployed across 64,000 LED lights in Edinburgh.

Telensa was selected by leading digital transformation specialists, GCI Group, as part of the LED replacement contract run by Amey. The deployment, aimed at improving energy efficiency in the city, is underway and expected to be completed by late-2020.

Justene Ewing, VP Consulting Services and Partnership Director for CGI at the City of Edinburgh Council, said: “We are delighted to be working with Telensa to unlock the efficiency gains and smart city potential of connected street lighting.”

Innovative Illumination

Telensa PLANet is a wireless central management system (CMS) that allows for centralised remote control of a town or city’s lighting network.

It consists of wireless nodes connecting individual lights, dedicated wireless connectivity, and a central management application and, according to Telensa, can provide real-time monitoring to identify and track potential faults. It also measures energy consumption and relays information directly to the Meter Administrator.

The system, according to Telensa, “pays for itself” in reduced energy and maintenance costs, improves the quality of services and enables streetlight poles to act as “hubs” for smart city sensors. Over 1.5 million lights are connected through PLANet globally, making it the worlds most popular smart streetlighting system.

The Cambridge-based firm’s innovation was recognised in May for two Queen’s Awards for Enterprise; Innovation and International Trade.

Global Footprint

Edinburgh will join a host of cities worldwide to have introduced the PLANet smart streetlight system. In April 2018, the company announced that it had been selected by to replace 600 street lights in Hong Kong. This pilot scheme aimed at gradually introducing more sophisticated and intelligent lighting systems to the region’s urban infrastructure.

Telensa also installed its product in New Zealand, after it was selected by Whakatane District Council in March this year to replace the region’s 2,500 streetlights with wirelessly managed LEDs.

Building a New Generation

Will Gibson, Founder and Chief Commercial Officer at Telensa, said the company is “looking forward to working together to build a new generation of smart city applications, all enabled by the city’s lighting network” and noted that the installation of the PLANet will “be responsive to citizens’ needs for decades to come.”

Transport and Environment Convener, Councillor Lesley MacInnes welcomed the announcement, however, noted that the installation process will take some time before Edinburgh can fully appreciate PLANet’s smart streetlights.

She said: “We are rolling out energy efficiency street lights with smart remote controls to communities right across the Capital, starting this summer and continuing on a ward-by-ward basis until the end of 2020.”

“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.”

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