By 2025, Europe will have a relatively large installation base of intelligent street lamps

The report "smart street lighting in smart cities" concluded that led lighting has now become a standard substitute for traditional street lighting in most cities in the world. Intelligent control has become more and more common and is gradually deployed together with LED lighting.

Many cities around the world are likely to replace existing street lamps with new and more efficient lighting in the longer term, not only to meet energy efficiency standards, but also to be economically feasible. LED lighting is clearly the wisest choice, but the new Navigant report says that intelligent control currently accounts for only 2% of the 2017 street lamp installation base and is not fully utilized.

According to the report, this situation may change. The installation base of intelligent street lamps is expected to increase from 6.3 million at present to a staggering 73 million in 2026.

"As LED becomes the upgrading technology of street lighting, the next frontier of intelligent street lighting network is to rapidly increase the deployment of control technology and turn it into an innovative platform for intelligent city." "Sensors and other technologies are being added to the intelligent street lighting network to provide a large number of new urban services, including gunshot detection, air quality monitoring, electric vehicle charging, traffic management and intelligent parking," said Ryan citron, an analyst at Navigant research

Obviously, there are many driving factors behind the smart street lamp economy. LED lighting is generally accepted because of the significant cost reduction and the improvement of lighting quality. LEDs can now provide the necessary yellow lights for street lights. A year ago, Cree introduced a new RSW LED street lamp lighting system, which is the first example of a new generation of lighting. It not only improves energy efficiency, but also provides the warm color temperature most needed by street lamps.

At that time, Norbert Hiller, executive vice president of Cree lighting, said: "Cree is committed to providing a better lighting experience by continuing to develop the real potential of LED technology. Cree‘s RSW series ensures that residents no longer need to face dazzling street lights at night, saves energy in the city and reduces residents‘ complaints about dazzling street lighting."

The Navigant report explains that installing intelligent control systems while deploying new LED lighting is the cheapest way, which explains why intelligent control measures are still lagging behind. Intelligent street lamps may be an important tool for cities to adapt to future energy efficiency requirements, but there are still some obstacles. Navigant research highlighted these concerns: "Alleviating citizens‘ concerns about monitoring and privacy intrusion, the ownership mode of legacy street lamps still exists in some jurisdictions, the complexity of application projects and the need to improve early-stage capital are the challenges facing the smart street lamp market."

Navigant predicts that Europe will have a relatively large installation base of intelligent street lamps by 2025, followed by Asia Pacific and North America.