The city of Essen has become smarter. This is made possible by 15 new intelligent streetlights, which E.ON, the city of Essen, and the Essener Versorgungs- und Verkehrsgesellschaft (EVV) have officially put into operation near the Philharmonic Hall and the Aalto Theater.
The so-called smart poles not only provide light but can also serve as charging points for electric cars, enable intelligent parking space management via sensor technology, collect data on air quality or provide the area with fast Internet access via W-Lan routers.
E.ON is offering this innovative technology to cities and communities with the promise of improving the quality of life for citizens. Modern street lights bring digitalization, sustainability, and urban mobility to public areas. The integrated eChargers for e-cars also offer a solution for the expansion of charging points in cities. With this versatility, the Smart Poles promote the green restart of business and public life after the corona pandemic.
Smart Poles
“With the so-called Smart Poles – i.e. intelligent street lights – E.ON has brought a future-proof technology to the streets in the truest sense of the word,” said Lord Mayor Thomas Kufen.
“Thanks to the built-in sensor technology, they can provide digital data that we can use to make the environment intelligent and sustainable.”
“We want to strengthen Essen as a location for innovation in the long term, and the topics of digitalization and sustainability play a central role in this. That's why I'm delighted that the Smart Poles are now also being used in Essen as part of a pilot project.”
Showing the infrastructure
With the Smart Poles, we are showing the infrastructure for the city of the future
“With the Smart Poles, we are showing the infrastructure for the city of the future and how the digitization of the infrastructure can improve the quality of life of the people. Cities and municipalities are increasingly faced with the challenge of giving their citizens access to digitalization.”
“As a partner, we at E.ON want to accompany municipalities on this path. I'm delighted that we can implement this innovative project in our home city of Essen,” said Johannes Teyssen, Chairman of the E.ON Board of Management.
New opportunities
Katherina Reiche, Chairwoman of the Management Board of innogy Westenergie: “Smart Poles are multi-talented. They are an excellent example of the new opportunities’ digitalization will give us today and in the future. With the Smart Poles, we are making life easier for citizens and providing them with real added value”.
Lars Martin Klieve, Managing Director of EVV and member of the Board of Management of Stadtwerke Essen: “For me, intelligent street lighting is a milestone on the path of connected. Essen, as we call the smart city approach in our city. Everyday objects are charged with a variety of functionalities and thus help to continually improve urban life”.
1.7 million light points
E.ON operates 1.7 million light points in Germany and has decades of experience in street lighting
E.ON operates 1.7 million light points in Germany and has decades of experience in street lighting in urban and rural areas. The new Smart Poles were presented by Thomas Kufen, Johannes Teyssen, Lars Martin Klieve, and Katherina Reiche, Chairwoman of the Board of Management of Westenergie.
In Huyssenallee in Essen, Germany, E.ON has installed its largest Smart Pole project in Germany to date. The Smart Poles will be equipped with various digital solutions:
- 14 Smart Poles were installed along Huyssenallee. Another Smart Pole will follow in front of the site of the new Huyssen Quartier Essen.
- A so-called eCharger, a charging point, is integrated in five lights where citizens can charge electric vehicles.
- The sensor system for intelligent parking management records the occupancy of around 140 parking spaces along Huyssenallee. The Smart Pole on the Huyssen Quarter site will be used to detect the occupancy of 15 further parking spaces.
- The Smart Parking data is collected on a platform and visualized on two of six digital screens on the luminaires.
- The total of six screens will then also display a diverse mix of information on current events and important topics from the city for the citizens.
- In addition, data on air quality is collected and visualized on the screens.
- An installed WLAN router offers citizens access to fast Internet in the Glück-auf-Park between Alfredstraße and Rüttenscheider Straße.
- In addition, an emergency button will be installed in the Glückauf-Park, which citizens can press in a dangerous situation or in case of medical emergencies. The button then connects citizens to E.ON's Security Operations Center, which is manned 24 hours a day.