In an effort to decrease electric power consumption, Riyadh Municipality is set to increase its reliance on energy-saving (LED) systems for street lighting and expand the use of solar energy, according to a report.

 

It plans to reduce the voltage during the late evening in order to trim down consumption by 30 per cent, said the Arab News report.

 

Additionally, older lighting systems will be replaced with mercury sodium lanterns, which will reduce consumption by another 35 to 40 per cent, it said.

 

The plan also unveiled technical solutions to the problem of unpredictable lighting at terminal control stations, which resulted from the damage caused to photovoltaic cells through weathering. To do this, the city will install 'Astronomical Clocks', which will be programmed in advance to respond at sunset and sunrise. 

 

This is expected to reduce consumption by approximately 10 per cent, said the report.

 

The rationalisation projects implemented already include the installation of a sophisticated system to control lighting networks remotely through the terminal control stations. 

 

These stations will collect information from sensors installed on the columns of the lights and send them automatically to the central control room which connects all of the lighting networks neighbourhoods of Riyadh, it added.