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Spain has introduced a lantern that works simultaneously from two sources of energy
Last reviewed: 02.07.2025
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Recently, energy saving has become quite relevant, and specialists are developing various methods that would allow obtaining energy from natural sources, such as wind or sun.
Today, not only city authorities, but also specialists are thinking about how to save on street lighting without losing efficiency. Some cities already use street lights that run on an alternative energy source, but specialists from Spain decided to make improvements and develop lights that could work simultaneously from two natural energy sources, such as wind and sun.
The new system was developed by specialists from the Polytechnic University of Catalonia in collaboration with the company Eolgreen.
Work on the creation of the lighting system took four years, and such lanterns were intended specifically for lighting intercity highways, parks and city streets.
This system is unique and has no analogues. As the developers themselves note, using such lighting it is possible to save 20% of costs, in comparison with the street lighting systems currently used.
The first figurative model, which has been created at the moment, is 10 meters high and is equipped with a battery, LED lighting, solar panels, a wind generator and an electrical control system, through which the distribution of energy between the components of the system is controlled.
The wind generator rotation speed is from 10 to 200 rpm, it is capable of operating with a maximum power of up to 400 W. The developers sought to make the system as environmentally friendly as possible and have already begun work on creating a second model of the wind generator, the operating speed of which will be from 10 to 60 rpm, in addition, it will be less powerful - 100 W.
According to the experts, the street lights will be equipped with two LED backlights manufactured by Philips, an electric battery, and two 100W solar panels. The LiFePO4 battery can last up to 84 hours on a single charge, and an additional, more capacious battery can work up to 156 hours (about 7 days) without recharging.
The new lighting system is capable of operating outside the city's power grid.
In addition, the developers have thought of a possibility that will allow the administrator to control the operation of the lights, promptly identify and eliminate malfunctions.
One of the developers of the new system explained that a small amount of wind is required to produce energy - the generator starts at a wind speed of only about two meters per second (currently used wind generators require a wind speed of at least 2.5 meters).
The young company Eolgreen has already signed agreements for the purchase of street lighting systems with several cities in Andalusia (Spanish autonomous community), Girona, Sant Boi de Llobregat. During this year, the company plans to produce approximately seven hundred street lighting lamps.
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