Automation of parking area lighting at the Mäntyluoto gatehouse

In recent years, the Port of Pori has taken major steps toward improving energy efficiency by replacing outdated gas-discharge lamps with modern LED lighting. These upgrades have reduced electricity consumption across the port area while also improving lighting quality and safety for employees. In autumn 2021, the parking area lighting at the Mäntyluoto gatehouse was modernized with new LED lights. The previous system had a power demand of 18 kW, whereas the new LED lights require only 9,2 kW. Thanks to improved control options, the lighting was also programmed to switch to an energy-saving mode outside regular working hours.

The system was upgraded again in late summer 2022, when access routes leading to the gate area were equipped with motion and photocell sensors. The lighting control system also detects when exterior doors of the gatehouse open. This means that when someone leaves the building, the lights brighten automatically, ensuring that employees never have to walk to their vehicles in the dark. When the area is empty, the lights remain dimmed in energy-saving mode, but they brighten automatically when movement is detected.

These improvements have produced clear results. Between 1 September and 30 November 2020, the gatehouse and parking area lighting consumed 48 487 kWh of electricity. After the first lighting upgrade, consumption for the same period dropped to 32 909 kWh. Following the control system update in 2022, it fell even further to 29 294 kWh. Overall, the gatehouse’s energy consumption has been reduced by 39,58% in just two years.