The ProLIGHTmed project is dedicated to promoting climate change adaptation by optimizing and enhancing energy efficiency solutions for public lighting in the Euro-MED area. The project is funded by the Interreg Euro-MED Programme 2021-2027, under the “Greener MED” programme priority.
Focusing on climate change adaptation by creating green and resilient communities, the project aims to enhance the energy efficiency of public lighting and reduce CO2 emissions in Mediterranean countries, considering technical, socioeconomic, and environmental parameters.
The program aims to develop a Joint Strategy to enhance energy efficiency and reduce CO2 emissions in public lighting, along with an action plan for financing related projects. These will be implemented and tested in four pilot public lighting upgrade projects in the Municipality of Tuzi (Montenegro), the Municipality of Lezhë (Albania), the City of Kaštela (Croatia), and the Municipality of Pegeia (Cyprus). The goal is to create replicable models that can be used throughout the Mediterranean region to improve energy efficiency and reduce CO2 emissions in street lighting.
Expected Results
The expected results of the project are:
- Development of a common strategy and cross-border methodology for enhancing the energy efficiency and reducing CO2 emissions in the public lighting of Euro-Med region.
- A methodology for financing these optimizations, which includes engagement with the banking sector and establishing subsidy schemes for public lighting investments.
- Implementation of public lighting pilot investments in 4 MED countries: Municipality of Tuzi (ME), Municipality of Lezhë (AL), City of Kastela (HR) and Municipality of Pegeia (CY).
- Knowledge transfer campaigns.
Our Role
Renewable and Sustainable Energy Systems Lab of Technical University of Crete (ReSEL-TUC) holds 20+ years of experience on Clean Energy and Sustainable Systems research and innovation and highly competent knowhow on developing, testing and assessing technological measures, as well as on non-technological social research aspects, connecting with the industrial & market sectors. Its main objectives are to turn research and scientific knowledge into mature solutions and practices in energy transition, climate change, sustainable communities, sustainable urban and rural mobility.
As a technical partner in the program, the ReSEL@TUC Laboratory will provide expertise, best practices, and lessons from the development, delivery, monitoring, and evaluation of numerous pilot projects focused on energy efficiency and clean energy investments. Specifically, it will offer technical advice and support to the pilot municipalities in designing sustainable public lighting investments and integrating them into sustainable energy plans or decarbonisation strategies. Additionally, it will adapt the COMPOSE model for public lighting projects, guiding program partners in mapping and engaging stakeholders. The COMPOSE toolkit was recognized as a finalist among hundreds of nominations for the 2023 REGIOSTARS awards of DG REGIO (the European Commission's Directorate for Regional and Urban Policy) and is used by local authorities in 11 Mediterranean countries, supporting sustainable development goals, with a focus on low-carbon actions and increasing the share of renewables in their energy mix.
The ProLIGHTmed project activities began on January 1, 2024, and will end on September 30, 2026, for a total project duration of 33 months.
Project Partners
ProLIGHTmed is led by the Municipality of Tuzi (Montenegro) and involves 7 partners from different countries:
- Energy and Environment Agency of Arràbida (Portugal)
- Union of Bulgarian Black Sea Local Authorities (Bulgaria)
- Municipality of Lezhë (Albania)
- Peyia Municipality (Cyprus)
- City of Kaštela (Croatia)
- National Energy Technological Cluster (Italy)
- Renewable and Sustainable Energy Lab - Technical University of Crete (Greece)
7 Associated Organizations
- Utility Company Tuzi LTD (Montenegro)
- The Environmental Protection Fund (Eco-fund) (Montenegro)
- City of Setúbal (Portugal)
- Cooperative Bank of Karditsa L.L.C (Greece), linked to ReSEL@TUC
- Greenesco Energy Services (Greece), linked to ReSEL@TUC
- Municipality of Rethymnon (Greece), linked to ReSEL@TUC
- LEZHA INVEST (Albania)
Project budget: 2.949.785 € (Interreg Funds: 2.359.828 €)
ProLIGHTmed poster#mce_temp_url#
ProLIGHTmed Official project website#mce_temp_url#
ProLIGHTmed Facebook page#mce_temp_url#
ProLIGHTmed Instagram page#mce_temp_url#
ProLIGHTmed YouTube channel #mce_temp_url#
