Starry sky again visible above Chemelot site

19 june 2017|News

Companies that want to improve their sustainability performance often do not primarily think of lighting as a meconsumption by at least 80% through the use of intelligent LED lighting at factories. This not only reduces the CO2 footprint, but also allows us to put an end to the light pollution above the site and realize a cost saving.
Smart LED scoop for chemical industryans to realize their goal. Nevertheless, this can make a considerable difference, especially in the chemical industry. With the TPPL project at Chemelot, the participating parties prove that it is possible to reduce energy.

The TPPL project includes unique innovations for the (chemical) industry in the field of intelligent LED lighting, a wireless local network and an IoT platform (Internet of Things) for monitoring and servicing. This makes it a first in the cost-effective application of wirelessly controlled LED lighting on a large scale in industry. What makes the TPPL (Tubular Professional Performance Lighting) LED luminaires particularly distinctive, is that they transmit information wirelessly about their condition and respond to changing circumstances in the environment.
The initiative came from PSPL and Dietal (LED luminaires).

They found a willing ear at Sitech Services and decided to start an open innovation process with a number of companies at Chemelot: Arlanxeo, AnQore, Borealis, DSM Engineering Plastics, Fibrant and OCI Nitrogen. Co-developers were Luminext (control platform), Chess Wise (local network), Van den Pol (installation technology) and LEDsEnable (financing).


Scaling up to 17,000 lamps from the pilot
In 2016, the TPPL project team started a pilot at two factories and more than 3,000 LED lamps have now been installed. The pilots showed that the calculated savings are actually realized. Factory employees in the pilot factories were immediately enthusiastic about the new lighting, which approaches the light of day. The light quality contributes to more safety and a pleasant working atmosphere. For the summer of 2018 all factories of the participating companies will switch to the new lighting. In total, approximately 17,000 lamps will be replaced.
Sustainability as a spearhead, calling light pollution a halt
Thanks to the automatic 'twilight' control and the wireless dimming and control diagram, the factory lighting can be minimized, making the starry sky above Chemelot visible again. In addition to reducing light pollution, an energy saving of 80% to more than 90% can be achieved by extinguishing the lighting. In addition, fully recyclable LED lamps last 20 to 25 years. The reduced amount of waste and the reduction of energy consumption constitute a benefit for the environment.

Save on multiple fronts with increased safety
We have opted for a complete light-as-a-service solution, whereby the companies will be completely unburdened in terms of lighting when it comes to financing, installation and maintenance by means of an operational lease concept. The participating Chemelot companies save over 20% on their total lighting costs. Energy costs drop by more than 80%. Due to the long service life, the maintenance costs also drop sharply and the safety risks of replacing the lamps decrease.

Facts & Figures
There are 30,000 light fittings on the entire Chemelot site. Currently, 3,000 luminaires have been replaced by the smart LED lights. Within a year this will be 17,000 at the current pilot plants (5 companies, 22 factories).
Reducing light pollution is the main motivation of asset owners to step in.
The current energy consumption, worth almost half a million euros, will be reduced to 150,000 euros with this project. With further development (full application of intelligent switching) to 50,000 euros.

Chemelot
Chemelot (Sittard-Geleen) is a multi-user site with many companies and processes. Through good cooperation, coordination of activities and search for optimal solutions in the field of energy, sustainability and innovation, the synergy on the site will be strengthened and investments will be made in the future. Chemelot is an economic engine for Limburg and the Netherlands. It consists of the Industrial Park, with almost 150 companies and institutions, including multinationals such as Arlanxeo, AnQore, DSM, Fibrant, OCI Nitrogen and SABIC. Brightlands Chemelot Campus also belongs to the site, strongly connected to the Brightlands campuses in Maastricht, Heerlen and Venlo. At the moment, more than 6,000 people are working at the Industrial Park and another 1,700 at the campus and Brightlands Chemelot Campus is hosting 600 students.