Energy-efficient field lighting at Vuosaari Harbour

The indoor and outdoor lighting of West Terminal 2, completed in 2017, has been implemented using energy-efficient LED lights, but the extensive field lighting of Vuosaari Harbour was instead implemented with high-pressure sodium and metal-halide lamps at the time the harbour construction was finished. They were the natural choice: when the harbour area was completed in 2008, there were no sufficiently efficient LED lights available.

The lighting system of Vuosaari Harbour’s closed harbour area (150 ha) includes 76 light masts with 908 individual lights that have a total of 1,816 lamps. The lamps are located at a height of about 40 metres. The system also features separate lighting modes for working time and night time as well as extra lighting and special jetty and corner lights. The amount of diffused light carrying to the nearby areas has been restricted significantly. The original total wattage of the area’s lighting system was around 1.2 MW.

Like its owner, the City of Helsinki, the Port of Helsinki is also committed to the goal of achieving a carbon neutral Helsinki by 2035. The Port has compiled its own strategy and action plan, in which more efficient use of energy plays a central role.

Great energy savings have already been achieved in the field lighting of Vuosaari Harbour with control and operational changes: the harbour’s own energy consumption has been cut down to less than half of what it was during its first operational year. In the spirit of continuous improvement, further improvements in the energy consumption of the field lighting will be sought, although it is not possible to achieve as extensive savings.

As more powerful LEDs have been developed, and especially now that white LED has been invented, LED lights will also gradually start to be used in the lighting system of Vuosaari Harbour, which has many advantages. Lamps will be changed cost-effectively as they come to the end of their lifecycle. It is estimated that LEDs will be used for the entire field lighting system of Vuosaari Harbour by 2030.

• In 2021, approximately 320 energy-efficient LED lamps will be fitted in the Port’s light masts. This will also improve the lighting control options, as some old lights remain on the masts in addition to the LED lights, functioning as a reserve that is not needed under normal conditions. 
• In 2018, LED night lights were installed in 10 light masts of the quay areas D and E.
• In 2017, the corner lights of the quay and the bollard in berth D were replaced by LEDs. In addition, the test use of four LED-lit light masts began.
• In 2017, the lights of jetty B were all replaced by LEDs. In addition to being energy-efficient and eco-friendly, these new lights are better suited for loading pulp as suspended loads. The amount of diffused light carrying to the surroundings was also efficiently cut down.

The many advantages of LED lighting

• Great directivity: the diffused light carrying over to the neighbouring Natura nature conservation area and the nearby residential areas will diminish further when the lights are replaced with LEDs that are pointed directly downwards.
• Vision-friendly white light and great colour reproduction ability significantly improves occupational safety and comfort at the harbour.
• Durability and long service life.
• The use of LED lights will reduce the Port’s carbon dioxide emissions by 116 tonnes per year.