The Orihuela Municipality has revealed plans to utilise solar energy for street lighting across rural paths and districts. The project has a budget of one hundred and twenty-two thousand three hundred and ninety-one euros, allocated for the installation of public lighting in various locations within the municipal area. The government asserts that this will significantly improve safety, accessibility, and the quality of life for residents who previously lived in poorly lit areas.

The initiative will implement long-lasting lithium batteries and solar panels, allowing for efficient and environmentally friendly lighting. It is expected to provide substantial economic savings in the medium to long term by reducing reliance on traditional electricity. The project will employ state-of-the-art LED technology to minimise light pollution while ensuring consistent illumination tailored to the specific needs of each environment.

Locations benefiting from this initiative include the San Isidro recreational area, Barbarroja, Barrio Los Quiles in La Murada, and various other dispersed locations. The installation will feature six-metre tall columns and LED lights with a power of fifty watts and a luminous output of eight thousand five hundred lumens, supported by high-performance monocrystalline solar panels and long-lasting lithium batteries.

Victor Valverde, the Councillor for Infrastructure, highlighted the project’s importance, stating that it addresses a long-standing demand from residents for improved safety in previously dark pathways. This scheme complements ongoing efforts to shift towards solar energy, including the recent tender for photovoltaic panel installation on fourteen municipal buildings, which is anticipated to further contribute to the municipality’s energy savings.