LED technology reaches headlights

The limits of LED technology in lighting seem to be pushed every day. Now light-emitting diodes have reached one of the applications that require the greatest light range: headlights.

The Punta Cumplida lighthouse, in La Palma (Canary Islands), has become the first in Europe that will operate with LED technology, a high-power light-emitting diode, which translates into a notable reduction in consumption and no less important increase in its light range.

The choice of said lighthouse for the implementation of this pilot project responds precisely to the fact that until today it was the one with the highest consumption among those dependent on the Port Authority of Santa Cruz de Tenerife, with an average of 3,200 watts/hour. With the new system, 3kw/hour will be saved and, on the contrary, the lighting range will be increased, going from the current twenty-six nautical miles to more than forty.

All this together with the fact that the useful life of the LED can reach, according to the construction company, up to one hundred years, which in turn translates into a reduction in costs compared to that currently billed for the provision of light bulbs.

Puertos de Tenerife, a pioneer company in different technological improvement actions in its network of navigation aids, such as the installation of the first operational Lighthouse Management and Remote Control system in Spain, has promoted this new initiative that will come into operation in La Palma this afternoon.