Port of Amsterdam Smart Public Lighting on DC

Amsterdam is the first city in the world to implement a self-supporting system that is powered by the high-voltage DC grid on 350V and therefore does not rely on the public AC grid. The pilot project is to gradually expand until the entire port area is lit by this sustainable, safe and user-friendly system. In total, 42 dynamic dimmable LED luminaires are controlled remotely by a luminizer with software from Luminext. The smart public lighting adjusts to a comfortable light level when there are users on the paths. The installation of the DC grid instead of the regular AC grid and energy sourced fully from nearby floating solar panels and a miniature wind turbine makes the street lighting system sustainable and energy and cost efficient.

Direct Current B.V. supplied the 350V Public Light LED Driver to Luminext. In collaboration with CityTec, the DC grid is installed with the Current Router which controls the DC microgrid and the safety. The LED lighting is connected to the DC grid of the DC system.

Since solar panels generate DC power, a traditional AC grid would need DC/AC converters to transport the energy to the user. Because LED lighting works on DC, another AC/DC converter would then be needed to make the power usable. A DC system eliminates the need for these converters which makes up for energy losses. DC cables are also thinner than AC cables. These savings on money, raw materials and investments prove to be an accelerator to sustainable energy transition.

• Port of Amsterdam
• Eneco
• Luminext
• Citytec
• Windchallenge
• Sunfloat