Night shutdown systems and LED lighting will allow Metro de Madrid to save 12 million euros a year

Metro will replace 330.000 fluorescent tubes for LED lighting, which will mean savings of 50% on the invoice. The seasons, escalators and vending machines will automatically turn off when the network closes.

The Madrid Metro Optimization Plan is committed to energy savings to reduce costs. They will be replaced 330.000 fluorescent tubes for LED lighting, which will mean savings of 50% on the invoice. The seasons, escalators and vending machines will automatically turn off when the network closes.

Over the next few months, Metro de Madrid will implement a package of measures that will save 12 million euros annually for the company in its energy bill, within the Resource Optimization Plan that is being applied to reduce expenses in all possible items with the least impact on travelers. These savings will be obtained from the energy chapter and will make the Madrid suburban a more sustainable Metro.

The Madrid metropolitan network is going to implement LED lighting throughout the network. At the moment, Metro has more than 330.000 fluorescent tubes operating more than 17.000 hours per year that will be progressively replaced by new lighting technologies (LED), which will achieve energy savings greater than 50% on the current lighting reducing the electric bill by almost 4 million euros annually, once the replacement of all network and train lighting has been completed.

Energy savings

The optimization of the propulsion of Metro trains will mean savings close to 1,5 million euros annually. The company's engineering department has designed a mechanism by which trains will accelerate more slowly using a smaller amount of energy., without having an impact on users' travel time, also facilitating the regeneration of energy from one train to another.

To get the most out of the ventilation of the tunnels, three different seasonal periods will be established per year. (summer, winter and mid-season) instead of the current two (summer and winter), which will allow ventilation when the temperature difference between inside and outside is maximum, which is usually at night, moment when the energy cost is also lower.

This measure, which will have a positive impact on travelers by having better ventilation, will mean a saving of almost 2 million euros once the implementation process is completed.

Scheduled night shutdown

Metro also plans to carry out a review and implementation of the programmed night-time shutdown systems for station lights., escalators and vending machines to ensure that they are turned off after closing, except in maintenance and cleaning areas. This measure will mean savings greater than 1,5 million euros annually.

In addition, Metro will apply an improvement in the air conditioning of trains and formulas for the disconnection of electrical substations during off-peak hours, which will reduce energy expenditure in 1 million euros.