Overview

The project, titled "Improving Energy Efficiency in the Territory of Shabla Municipality by Renewing the Street Lighting System in the City of Shabla", was funded entirely through the EEA Financial Mechanism 2014–2021 under the “Renewable Energy, Energy Efficiency, Energy Security” programme. Shabla’s existing infrastructure was characterized by simple, functional lamps with outdated technology, spaced modestly across the town’s residential and pedestrian areas. Illumination was inconsistent, energy costs were high, and key public areas remained poorly lit—particularly in remote zones. The project responded to these challenges by integrating smart lighting systems (LED fixtures equipped with sensors to dynamically adjusted the light based on real-time conditions), remote monitoring for real-time fault detection and performance management, and renewable energy - a small-scale photovoltaic system was installed to partially power the network. The project also supported capacity building for municipal staff in energy management and renewable energy applications. Despite the project's overall success, Shabla faced significant administrative hurdles during the procurement phase. Key takeaways:

• Simple, scalable solutions (e.g., LED retrofits, smart monitoring) can offer immediate impact while preparing for longer-term smart infrastructure.
• Overly complex tendering procedures can delay implementation and create financial risks—streamlining and legal clarity are essential for smooth execution.

RESULTS

Annual savings 72.23%:

• 33,456€/year
• 435 МWh/year
• 518 CO₂ kg/year

TIMESCALE

2021-2023

FINANCING

Total investment cost: 173,350 €

Financing rate: National 10%, EU 90%

CONTACTS

Municipality of Shabla