Spain is one of the least efficient in Europe in regard to street lighting, and private lighting also has significant room for improvement. Currently, energy efficiency has become the great economic and social objective of our society, both in business and in issues relating to reducing emissions of greenhouse gases into the atmosphere.

Possibilities for improvement

The seminar was divided into two distinct parts. In the first, the possibilities and margins for improvement in energy efficiency of lighting in Spain and the importance of the Energy Service Companies (ESCOs) were laid out in detail.

The Head  of the Development of Energy Solutions Portfolio of GAS NATURAL FENOSA, Ramón Silvero, presented possible improvements in energy efficiency of Lighting in Spain, in public and private sectors and the importance of ESCOs in securing these improvements.

The different technologies and management systems that can contribute to obtain an improvement in the energy efficiency of lighting was one of the main topics discussed during the first part of the sessions. The head of the Energy Efficiency of the Baimen company, Javier Calonge, stressed that the concept of "energy efficiency" has caused a total transformation of lighting in recent years, currently aimed at saving energy and decreasing greenhouse gases. Moreover, Calonge summarised the main technologies and solutions that exist in lighting for each type of customer.

Case Studies

In the second part of the day, practical experiences of energy efficiency improvements in lighting in Andalusia and  the policy of support from the Junta de Andalucía in this area were presented.

The head of  the technical department of the company, Iluminaciones Ximénez, Carolina Medina, spoke of the practical experience of this Cordoba company from Puente Genil with efficient lighting in cities during festivals and the Christmas season, while the Director of Energy Efficiency and the Environment of Philips Lighting Iberia, Jorge Jusdado, focused his presentation on what the correct strategy should be for an ESCO to handle street lighting, and contributed his experience with a case study of lighting in the city of Alcorcón (Madrid).

In his turn, the technical director of the Solitec Foundation and Professor of Electronics at the University of Malaga, Alfonso Gago, was charged with delivering a presentation of a case study of energy efficiency in public lighting in Andalusia. The experience in the private sector  was presented by the manager of R & C Nueva Infraestructura, José Antonio Cordero, who pointed out that energy saving is a business opportunity for companies in the sector, in addition to explaining their relationship with the Andalusian Energy Agency and  their method of carrying out their energy savings projects by outlining real examples.

A highlight among the talks was the intervention of the Director General of the Andalusian Energy Agency, Francisco José Bas, who presented the regional strategy to support energy saving and efficiency in lighting in Andalusia.

The conference, which was attended by top professionals with proven expertise in the field, was attended by over 250 people.

The Gas Natural Fenosa Foundation

With the holding of this seminar, the Gas Natural Fenosa Foundation continues to develop its activity aimed at spreading information of significant elements of energy and the environment, to promote the protection of the environment as well as extending information, education and awareness of society in the respect for and conservation of the environment.