Eficientização de parque de iluminação pública: estudo de caso em município de Minas Gerais

Abstract

Public lighting systems play a crucial role in the development and quality of life of communities, both in large urban centers and smaller cities. They contribute to street safety, enhance points of interest such as parks and monuments, and promote tourism, commerce, and nighttime leisure. One of the main challenges faced by public lighting systems is finding a balance between providing adequate illumination and minimizing energy consumption. Energy efficiency, therefore, becomes a priority to ensure the effective and sustainable use of available resources. The public lighting sector is constantly striving to optimize its services. In Brazil, approximately 3% of the total electricity consumption is attributed to public lighting. In response to this reality, the government has promoted several initiatives to modernize and improve the efficiency of the country's public lighting systems. In this context, this study aims to present the modernization process of public lighting systems, focusing on a case study of the municipality of Uberlândia, in Minas Gerais. The analyses were centered on replacing luminaires with LED technology, and an economic feasibility study was conducted to implement LED dimming techniques—two key strategies for improving public lighting efficiency. LED replacement is known for its energy efficiency and long lifespan, while dimming allows for a partial reduction in light output, consequently lowering energy consumption during low-demand hours, such as dawn and dusk, when sunlight still contributes to illumination, and during periods of low vehicle traffic. In Uberlândia, more than 90,000 lighting points were replaced, reducing electricity consumption by over 60%. Additionally, through the case study focusing on dimming in V1-classified roads, it was possible to identify opportunities to make the city's public lighting system even more efficient by utilizing the existing management infrastructure.