Smart cluster aims to act as a living lab for future smart cities

A mixed-use community of 25 businesses and 750 homes in the UK’s West Midlands is implementing a smart street lighting system which it claims will reduce energy consumption by more than 60 per cent.

A mixed-use community of 25 businesses and accommodating more than 750 homes in the West Midlands is installing a smart energy lighting system and intends to act as a case study for future smart cities.

IM Properties, which operates Blythe Valley Park in Solihull, is working with consulting, technology and engineering services company Enzen to implement its ZenLumen smart street lighting solution, which it claims will reduce the park’s annual lighting energy consumption by up to 62.5 per cent.

Monitoring and control

The system will enable IM Properties to monitor and control the park’s lighting infrastructure, detect real-time energy consumption and, if they exist, any operational irregularities. In addition, ZenLumen, which has integrated and advanced telecoms and networking capabilities, will offer real-time system updates.

IM Properties and Enzen are currently reviewing a sustainability roadmap, which may include future phases of work at Blythe Valley Park.

“Smart cities and smart clusters are the future,” said Sanjay Neogi, head of UK and Europe at Enzen. “A fully integrated, efficient and sustainable development can have a positive impact on sustainability in the long-term besides the immediate energy and cost-savings.

“We hope the new smart energy lighting system can act as a model ‘living lab’ for local authorities and other business hubs as they plan their sustainable energy efficient ecosystems.”

Enzen is delivering the project with its group companies that include Wellness TechGroup, which specialises in Internet of Things, cybersecurity, big data and artificial intelligence (AI) solutions, and NNNCo, the Australian IoT enterprise provider and LoRaWAN network operator.

Rob Hemus, asset director at IM Properties, added: “We are currently reviewing our sustainability goals across the business and Enzen, as an occupier on Blythe Valley Park, was a natural partner to deliver a more sustainable lighting system on our mixed-use scheme.”