Upgraded street lighting networks in Andrushivka and Radomyshyl boost community safety and energy efficiency

In Zhytomyr Oblast, a province in northern Ukraine, two municipalities have modernised their respective street lighting systems through EU grant funds managed by Nefco.

Читати історію впровадження проєкту англійською мовою

• Despite the ongoing war, street lighting projects are underway in Ukraine as the country prepares for a brighter future.
• Improved street lighting promotes a safer community and enables municipalities to reduce installed capacity and save money on electricity consumption.
• With a background in green financing and experience of working with Ukrainian municipalities, Nefco has a unique opportunity to advocate the country’s green and sustainable recovery.

Left photo: Improved street lighting system on a street of Andrushivka. Right photo: Improved street lighting system on a street of Radomyshy. Photos: Nefco

Despite the ongoing war, street lighting projects are underway in central and northern Ukraine as the country prepares for a brighter future.

In Zhytomyr Oblast, a province in northern Ukraine, the municipalities of Andrushivka and Radomyshyl have upgraded their respective lighting networks. Enhanced street lighting not only enables the two cities to reduce overall electricity consumption and save money through the implementation of energy-efficient measures and LED lamps; it also promotes a safer and more comfortable community. Well-lit streets improve night-time visibility for vehicles, facilitate smoother traffic flow, and can make pedestrians feel more secure when walking after dark.

The street lighting network in Andrushivka faced significant challenges before the project start, most of which stemmed from obsolete lamps that frequently broke down. The use of ineffective lamps in fixtures led to excessive electricity consumption and high expenditures on electricity and lamp replacement.

The lighting in Andrushivka has become much better than in some neighbourhoods of our capital

Volodymyr

Volodymyr, a bus driver, has resided in Andrushivka for more than eight years. He points out that the city’s new, energy-efficient lighting fixtures now allow him to navigate the streets with greater ease and provide smoother and safer transportation for passengers.

“This is important for drivers since road visibility has improved – pedestrians and other motorists are more clearly discernible,” he says. “I often visit Kyiv for work, and I must admit, the lighting in Andrushivka has become much better than in some neighbourhoods of our capital.”

In Radomyshyl, meanwhile, only around 400 of the approximately 1,000 luminaires in its inventory were in operation. Excessive distances between poles and the use of worn-out and uninsulated overhead wires characterised the city’s aging street lighting infrastructure. Many streets featured oversized lighting units to compensate for the wide pole spacing, while some had undersized ones.

Modernising around 700 street lighting fixtures in Radomyshl’s lighting network has brought about 390 MWh/a in electricity savings and annual municipal budget savings of EUR 75,000, including maintenance costs. Photos: Nefco

Unfortunately, the city government lacked resources to improve or retrofit the system, which required new lighting fixtures and additional poles, as well as replacement of the overhead system, control cubicles, and grounding.

Larysa, a computer operator, has called Radomyshl home for more than thirty years. She shares that street lighting used to be concentrated mainly in the city centre and was inefficient and energy-consuming.

“Now that our street lighting has been modernised, even the secluded streets in residential districts are illuminated. This makes our city safer and more comfortable to live in,” she says.   

Now that our street lighting has been modernised, our city is safer and more comfortable to live in

Larysa

The programme’s total budget is EUR 15 million. Around a total of EUR 660,000 in EU grant funds, managed by Nefco, was used to successfully carry out both energy efficiency modernisation projects.

“The reconstruction of Andrushivka’s outdoor lighting system is the first international grant project we have managed to implement since our community was established in 2020. It has had a significant impact on our way of life. We are extremely grateful to our international partners, especially Nefco and the European Union, for this opportunity and hope for further cooperation,” says Halyna Biletska, Mayor of Andrushivka.

We are extremely grateful to our international partners, especially Nefco and the European Union, for this opportunity and hope for further cooperation

Halyna Biletska, Mayor of Andrushivka

“Thanks to the joint efforts and support from Nefco and the EU, we have successfully completed the reconstruction of the street lighting system on 18 city streets. This project has brought significant positive changes to our community, providing a safer and more comfortable environment for residents,” says Volodymyr Teterskyi, Mayor of Radomyshl.

“With Nefco’s background in green financing and experience of working with Ukrainian municipalities, we have a unique opportunity to advocate the country’s green and sustainable recovery. The steps we are taking today to improve the living conditions and safety in Andrushivka and Radomyshyl will lead to greater impact as Ukraine readies itself for a new path forward,” says Alexey Dumik, Technical Adviserat Nefco. 

This project has brought significant positive changes to our community, providing a safer and more comfortable environment for residents

Volodymyr Teterskyi, Mayor of Radomyshl.

Upgrading some 400 street lighting fixtures and replacing the overhead system of the power supply network and poles as required in Andrushivka’s lighting system has resulted in electricity savings of approximately 360 MWh/a annually, and annual municipal budget savings of EUR 71,000, including maintenance costs. Modernising around 700 street lighting fixtures in Radomyshl’s lighting network has brought about 390 MWh/a in electricity savings and annual municipal budget savings of EUR 75,000, including maintenance costs.

Work in Andrushivka and Radomyshl began in autumn 2022 and was completed in late 2023. Despite the war, both projects adhered to standard project implementation processes. Implemented measures include the replacement of outdated fixtures with energy-efficient LED alternatives, installation of protective grounding circuits for electric poles, replacement of fastening brackets, and the introduction of reinforced concrete and metal galvanised electric poles with foundations, as well as replacement of uninsulated overhead supply networks with self-supporting insulated wiring. Tree branches were also trimmed to improve lighting visibility, and a proper disposal process for dismantled lamps was put into action.