The operation of energy self-sufficient street lamps, established by KSSENA in Savinjska, Šaleška and Carinthia, Slovenia has become, by 2017, economically viable and has been installed in many Municipalities across Europe.
Illustration : Vitaly Vlasov via Pexels
In 2011, KSSENA (KSSENA) established the demonstration centre where the pilot operation of self-sufficient street lamps took place. Lamps are located within parks and tourist areas in the Municipality of Velenje. This pilot set-up was done in the framework of the MOVE project that has strengthened Cross-border cooperation between Slovenia and Austria in the field of renewable energy and energy efficiency.
ESUS – energy self-sufficient street lamps exploits two types of renewable energy sources: it consists of a pole, on which a thin film photovoltaic module is installed, and a smaller wind turbine lies at the top. Both produce energy for the battery.
By 2017, ESUS has become economically viable and has been installed in many Municipalities across Europe. The Municipality of Velenje installed more than 30 ESUS lamps.
Running from 2009 to 2012, the MOVE project was created as a result of the need for cross-border cooperation between Austria and Slovenia in the field of energy and based on three goals that will contribute to the long-term protection and sustainability of the environment:
• efficient use of energy,
• promoting the use and development of alternative energy sources,
• energy sustainability of the cross-areas.