Endesa’s Smartcity Málaga Project is Europe’s largest eco-efficient city initiative. It aims to increase energy efficiency, reduce CO2 emissions and boost the use of renewable energy sources.
PHOTOGRAPHS: Smartcity Málaga album
VIDEO: Explore Smartcity Málaga
Since the project began in 2009, Endesa has pioneered the installation of 17,000 smart meters, delivered the first electric vehicles, introduced the first recharging points, installed the first part of the PLC network to provide grid automation services, installed low consumption LED street lighting and completed the project monitoring and control centre.
Renewable and efficient light generation. The first wind-powered and photovoltaic street lights have now been installed in the Paseo Antonio Banderas in Málaga. A total of 18 street lights will be installed, which will make the area self-sufficient in energy, using two similar technologies: nine 5-metre high 95 peak watts (Wp) photovoltaic units, with 58-watt LED lights; and nine 9-metre high 600 watt vertical-axis wind lanterns, each with three 58-watt lights.
The wind generator has also come into service, an 11-metre high wind turbine with 4Kw nominal capacity. It is expected to have a total annual output of 4,560 kWh. These generating systems work with storage batteries, which will form a micro smart grid in the area, so that their overall power generation flows can be monitored.
Energy saving and emissions reduction. 11 companies and research bodies form the consortium created to develop the SmartCity Project. This four-year project has a budget of Euro 31 million. SmartCity, the first project of its kind in Spain, will lead to energy savings of 20%, which translates into an annual reduction in CO2 emissions of 6,000 tonnes in the city of Malaga.
It is hoped that Smartcity will help the city to comply with European guidelines for the energy sector, which promote efficiency, the use of renewable energies and advanced grids with storage capacity. The main objectives of the project are:
- Automated meter readings. Endesa will install its new smart meters, allowing for more accurate billing and an end to estimates, thus resulting in more transparent bills. Readings will be carried out in real-time and customers will be offered an improved service, they will be able to manage consumption better and consult their bills online; grid disconnections will be reported immediately and breakdowns managed more efficiently.
- Consumers will change their habits as they can consult their consumption, rates and the environmental impact online.
- Customer awareness will be raised.
- Promotion of the electric vehicle; consumption management, batteries and loads will be managed correctly to ensure optimal use of the power grid.
- PLC communications between transformer centres.
- Energy efficiency in public and private buildings. Possible energy management in hospitals.
- Efficient management of public lighting which is important so that city councils can reduce consumption. Installation of noise sensors, environmental pollution sensors, surveillance cameras, communications services, presence sensors etc…
- Battery management and the installation of storage capacity in generators.
- Automated manoeuvres to install remotely controlled meters on the MV and LV network. The disconnection time during breakdowns will be reduced as will the number of customer complaints. Grid usage will be optimised.
- Alternative power producers will be installed, managed and controlled (photovoltaic, micro wind, trigeneration, biogas, hydrogen cells, CHP….)
- It will be possible to draw up consumption patterns to help improve planning and the use of alternative energies.
- The smart grid will help manage excess output of certain producers.
- Important objective: cut CO2 emissions.
- Changing the load curve by lowering consumption peaks and flattening the demand curve.
- This will help the company meet European guidelines for the energy sector which promote efficiency, the use of renewable energies and advanced grids with storage capacity.
For further information:
Enel Smart Grids