GE Lighting and UGL Limited install LED street lights in Sydney (Updated)

March 20, 2012
The city of Sydney, Australia plans to convert 6450 street and area lights to SSL and has entered into a contract with GE Lighting and UGL Limited to handle the retrofit.

Sydney, Australia plans to retrofit 6,450 street and area lights with LED luminaires following an 18-month trial of LED lights in park and street applications. GE Lighting will partner in the AUS $7 million (USD $7.4 million) solid-state lighting (SSL) retrofit with UGL Limited.

George Street in Sydney

Sydney projects energy savings of AUS $800,000 (USD $850,000) annually and a 40% reduction in greenhouse gas emissions. According to the city, one third of its annual energy use is attributable to public lighting. The lighting project is an element of Sydney's Sustainable 2030 program that is intended, by 2030, to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 70% relative to 2006 levels.

Sydney tested LED lights extensively in Alexandria Park, Circular Quay, George St, Kings Cross, and Martin place. The city wanted to assess the quality of lighting in addition to the potential energy and maintenance savings. The city said that a public survey found that 90% of the people found the LED lighting appealing and 75% said it afforded improved visibility.

Sydney's Martin Place

The Sydney LED lighting project will utilize several SSL luminaires from GE Lighting. For example, decorative Duna LED fixtures will be used in post-top applications. Round Iberia LED fixtures will serve in urban lighting. And for roadways the project will rely on the R250 LED Road luminaires.