by InTrieste
In a significant move towards sustainability and technological advancement, the city of Trieste has partnered with Edison Next to revamp its public lighting infrastructure. This initiative, announced at a press conference held in the Blue Lounge, is set to position Trieste as one of Italy’s leading smart cities.
The press conference, titled “Public Lighting: the Public-Private Partnership between the Municipality and Edison Next for a Smart and Sustainable City,” saw Mayor Roberto Dipiazza and Municipal Project Financing Councillor Everest Bertoli present the ambitious project. They were joined by Raffaele Bonardi, Business to Government Director of Edison Next, and Domenico Cervelli, North-East Area Business to Government Director of Edison Next, who elaborated on the specifics of the undertaking.
Mayor Dipiazza expressed his optimism, stating, “Welcome to Trieste. I believe the Edison group needs no introduction. My desire is to further improve the city and, through the redevelopment of public lighting, also increase safety. I wish you all good work.”
Councillor Bertoli highlighted the comprehensive nature of the initiative, describing it as the second phase of the city’s broader technological redevelopment vision. “In January, we discussed heating and building lighting. Today’s announcement completes our city’s redevelopment program,” he said.
Bertoli emphasized that the project extends beyond public lighting, aiming to transform Trieste into one of Italy’s premier smart cities. “This is the challenge — to significantly cut energy costs, which not only benefits the municipality financially but also allows us to reinvest in social services, education, and infrastructure,” he added.
Edison Next, a subsidiary of the Edison Group dedicated to aiding cities and companies in their decarbonization and ecological transition efforts, will commence the project on July 1st. The contract, spanning thirteen years, promises substantial energy and environmental benefits, including an annual energy saving of over 70% compared to 2023 levels and a reduction of approximately 3,900 tons of CO2 emissions per year.
Bonardi underscored Edison Next’s commitment to the project, noting, “Edison Next is dedicated to the energy redevelopment of public lighting in 300 Italian cities. Today, we are pleased to support Trieste, a city rich in history and architecture, in its journey towards decarbonization and sustainability. Our goal is to enhance the local community’s environment, making it safer and more accessible, while significantly reducing energy consumption and environmental impact.”
The project will upgrade over 20,000 lighting points to LED technology, add 400 new points, and transform 1,100 traditional lighting fixtures into decorative ones. It will also implement adaptive lighting systems on more than 700 points and a point-to-point telecontrol system on over 19,000 points. Additionally, 295 electrical panels will be upgraded to support advanced telemanagement.
Covering an area of 84 square kilometers from the city center to the periphery, the initiative will benefit approximately 200,000 residents. The project includes the management of all 26,000 city lighting points, the replacement of 235 electrical panels, and the requalification of an additional 60 existing panels. Moreover, 1,300 supports will be replaced, and 30 kilometers of new underground electrical lines will be installed, replacing the old overhead ones. A dedicated conduit for fiber optic distribution is also part of the plan.
In line with its community-focused approach, Edison Next will offer a 24/7 contact center service, available 365 days a year, accessible via their website and the municipality’s site from July 1st.
The initiative includes significant smart city developments, such as modernizing the existing control room at the S. Sebastiano Barracks, which oversees video surveillance, and establishing a new central control unit for system management interconnected with the city’s fiber optic network. Over 200 video surveillance and license plate reading systems, air quality monitoring units, weather monitoring stations, a smart parking system for disabled spaces, new Wi-Fi hotspots, electric vehicle charging stations, and AED (automatic defibrillator) units will also be implemented.
Urban mobility enhancements include the installation of 50 illuminated pedestrian crossings, replacement of 66 traffic light controllers, implementation of 40 vehicular traffic analysis systems using video-imaging technology, and installation of buttons and acoustic devices for the visually impaired at 38 intersections.
The project will also enhance the city’s aesthetic appeal, with architectural lighting planned for 15 prominent sites, including Piazza Unità d’Italia and the San Giusto Castle, featuring 470 dedicated projectors and lighting devices.
