Under the concession agreement with the municipality of Vila Real de Santo António, EDP Distribuição is replacing the old mercury and sodium vapour luminaries of the public lighting network with 1500 LED luminaries.

With this measure, more than 20 percent of the county's street lighting will use LED lamps, allowing a significant reduction in consumption and the consequent reduction of energy bills.

This plan will run gradually until the end of the year in all parishes and may be extended during the first months of 2020.

For Conceição Cabrita, mayor of VRSA, "the use of LED technology will increase the efficiency levels of the municipality and the safety of people and goods, reducing energy bills and maintenance needs."

In addition, it will provide better visual comfort conditions and will increase the lifespan and durability of lighting systems, with significant gains in environmental sustainability.

The main locations where some of these replacements will take place, by EDP's choice, taking into consideration the type of lighting currently in existence, are: Pedra Alva, Nora, Ribeiro do Junco, Beco, Buraco, Monte Fino, Vila Nova de Cacela, Manta Rota, Monte Gordo, Vila Real de santo António, Aldeia Nova, Hortas, Carvoeira e Bornacha.

Through this campaign, EDP Distribuição and Vila Real de Santo António City Council are continuing their strategy of modernizing the distribution network and adopting new technologies essential to energy transition and decarbonisation, in line with the National Energy and Climate Plan.

Opting for more sustainable equipment also makes a significant contribution to enhancing people's quality of life and public lighting.

By the end of the year, it is estimated that more than 20 percent of the existing park in mainland Portugal will be made up of LED luminaries, thus contributing to a reduction of the ecological footprint (by 40.3 thousand tons per year) and a reduction in the electricity consumption (at 80.1 million kWh / year).