> ## Content Index > Fetch the complete content index at: https://barna.news/llms.txt > Use this file to discover other available public pages before exploring further. # Barcelona to centrally control all street lights remotely - URL: https://barna.news/barcelona-to-centrally-control-all/ - Published: 2026-10-14T13:11:42.000Z - Updated: 2026-10-14T13:11:42.000Z - Description: The city council has implemented a centralised system to manage all 157,000 public lights, improving safety and energy efficiency. - Author: Barna.News - Tags: Urban Development ## Full remote control of city lighting now active Barcelona City Council has fully implemented a centralised system to remotely manage all 157,000 public lighting points across the city, allowing real-time monitoring, fault detection and brightness adjustments. The system, managed from a control room on Torrent de l'Olla street in Gràcia, enables technicians to switch lights on or off, regulate intensity and monitor energy consumption across neighbourhoods. Deputy Mayor Laia Bonet stated the upgrade significantly improves residents’ perception of safety and public space quality. Since the end of summer 2026, the system has allowed municipal staff to adjust lighting schedules based on weather conditions, turning lights on earlier during dark or rainy days, or delaying them when skies remain bright, optimising both safety and energy use. ## Lessons from the 2023 Vuelta a España The change follows difficulties during the first stage of the 2023 Vuelta a España on 27 August, when a summer storm darkened the city but streetlights could not be activated early due to reliance on manual, on-site control panels. At the time, technicians had to physically access each panel, making rapid response impossible. Under the new system, such adjustments can be made from the control room in seconds, according to Luisa Cabezas, head of the council’s Lighting Department. ## System tested during August solar eclipse The system’s effectiveness was demonstrated on 12 August 2026 during a partial solar eclipse, when daylight dimmed significantly. Although streetlights were scheduled to turn on at 8:53 PM, sunset time, the Dynamic Brightness Control system triggered activation at 8:22 PM, nearly 30 minutes earlier, based on actual light levels. The system also supports public safety operations, allowing the Guàrdia Urbana to request immediate lighting activation in areas affected by disturbances. It can detect unusual energy consumption patterns that may indicate unauthorised use of public lighting. ## Ongoing upgrades to reach 50% LED by 2028 According to the Comprehensive Maintenance Plan (PMI) under the Pla Endreça, the city plans 153 lighting improvement projects by the end of 2028, with a €22 million investment. The goal is to achieve 100% remote management and increase the share of LED lighting from the current 35% to 50%. Work is already underway on streets such as C/ Camèlies, where 52 streetlights and 800 metres of cabling are being renewed, with new dual-beam fixtures improving illumination on both roads and pavements. Barcelona’s public lighting currently consumes 67 GWh annually, 20% of the city’s total energy use, and has a power capacity of 16,300 kW. Full remote control is expected to reduce consumption and maintenance costs over time. --- *Primary sources:* [*Barcelona City Council*](https://www.barcelona.cat/infobarcelona/en/all-set-for-the-eclipse%5F40565.html?ref=barna.news)*,* [*bcnroc.ajuntament.barcelona.cat*](https://bcnroc.ajuntament.barcelona.cat/jspui/bitstream/11703/132752/1/AJUNTAMENT%20BCN%20PLA%20ENDRECA%5FCC.PDF?ref=barna.news)*,* [*ajuntament.barcelona.cat*](https://ajuntament.barcelona.cat/urbanisme-accio-climatica-mobilitat-pla-barris-serveis-urbans/en/actualidad/more-work-to-renew-and-improve-lighting-in-the-city-1419476?ref=barna.news)*. Reported by El Periódico Barcelona.* --- ### Related on Barna.News - [Barcelona to double cleaning crews after storms](https://barna.news/barcelona-to-double-cleaning-crews/) - [Sabadell to renovate 10 playgrounds and squares](https://barna.news/sabadell-to-renovate-10-playgrounds-and/) - [Carme street closure affects Rambla traffic until December](https://barna.news/carme-street-closure-affects-rambla/) - [Water Cut in Sant Pere Nord After Pipe Break](https://barna.news/water-cut-in-sant-pere-nord-after-pipe-break/)