First highway to be entirely lit by LED

Motorists in the Netherlands are enjoying the benefits of the world¡¯s first all-LED highway lighting program on one of the busiest stretches of road in the country.

Philips ¨C in collaboration with the Rijkswaterstaat (RWS - the Dutch highway authority), contractors Gebroeders Van der Lee and consultants Spectrum - has installed LED lighting along a 7km-length of the A44, one of the busy highways feeding commuters into and out of Amsterdam. The installation will be officially switched on in February.

The A44 uses Philips¡¯ SpeedStar LED solution, a highly energy-efficient luminaire which combines bright LED light with a dimming capability that dynamically lowers light output and energy consumption to safe levels during off-peak periods, with the ability to automatically turn up light levels as traffic picks up.

With around 60% of the energy consumed by the Netherlands¡¯ motorways and waterways used for lighting, the Philips installation on the A44 will save some 180,000 kWh per year ¨C the equivalent energy consumption of 50 households. The Philips LED and dimming solution on the A44 will save more up to 40% of the energy currently consumed by the previously lighting on the highway, with a similar reduction in CO₂ emissions from the energy use. The RWS also aims to use the A44 installation to learn more about the use of innovative LED-based lighting solutions on Dutch highways.

¡°The aim for our collaboration with the Rijkswaterstaat is to implement lighting solutions that both save energy and require less maintenance work on the roads,¡± comments Frank van der Vloed, General Manager, Philips Lighting Benelux. ¡°Together, we will help provide a safe night time driving experience while helping to lower energy consumption.¡±