The energy consumption management also involves maintenance and the ability to equip plants with new technologies capable of ensuring greater efficiency and performance. On the 10th July 2023, Monaco's Government will be launching a set of interventions to update the public lighting system in the most popular Le Rocher's tunnels. The business-as-usual fluorescent or sodium lamps will be replaced by LED equipment in line with the modern trend of large urban centres worldwide. Major road path to move from the east to the west side of the Principality passing through Fontvieille, the seven rocky-tunnel roads are currently lit by 637 lighting equipment to serve 1,340 bulbs.
Considered as one of the most promising invention of the 21st century, LED (Light-emitting diode) systems was conceived thanks to the research study of Oleg Lesev in 1927. Their use have been tested for several decades with various technical contributions making it available first for the paramount computing industry (IBM and Hewlett Packard - HP) and, most recently, for the public and private lighting systems. As for the latter use, Isamu Akasaki and Hiroshi Amano (2014 Physics Nobel Prize) from Nagoya University were definitely the patrons of a new revolutionary era, having designed the first simple diode from semiconductors, in late 1980’s. Soon after, Shuji Nakamura from Nichia Corporation added further essential knowledge to give life to the bright blue light emitting diode, in the early 1990's.
Since then, the use of LED street lamps has been increased exponentially based on a number of advantages not only in terms of energy consumption savings but also encouraging a better visibility for drivers. As for Monaco's equipment, the number of bulbs will be reduced providing up to 80,000 - 100,000 lighting hours, requiring their replacement every ten years.
To ensure the least inconvenience for users, the work will take place in four stages until April 2024, allowing limited traffic closures within the Sous le Rocher tunnels. In July and August 2023, the public works will run exclusively at night, from Mondays to Saturdays, between 9:00 p.m. and 5:30 a.m., involving 'Fontvieille', 'Noghès' and 'Antoine 1er' tunnels. Then, in order to get to Fontvieille, you will have access by Avenue de Fontvieille or by Liaison Marquet. Vice versa, to get out of Fontvieille, you will need to go via the Avenue de Fontvieille, the Liaison Marquet and the Tunnel Under the Rock to access the Boulevard Albert 1er and the Giratoire Canton.
So, Monaco's is more and more LED by the Energy Transition, approaching the half-way targets planned for 2030 according to the White Paper signed by the Sovereign Prince and agreed by the whole local community. Let's stay tuned. ***
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By Maurice Abbati
👇 "Communicating the Environment to Save the Planet, a Journey into Eco-Communication" by M. Abbati
Springer International Publishing
