Midlands business park to be green tech testbed

A WEST Midlands business park is being used as a testbed for new green technology.

IM Properties has teamed up with Enzen to use Blythe Valley Park in Solihull to test a new energy-saving streetlight system.

The smart system uses sensors to control the streetlights and dim them when the roads are not in use.

It incorporates wireless communication and an inbuilt app within 63 smart LED streetlights to identify maintenance and repairs.

Renewable energy sources such as solar panels and smart battery power can be added at a later date in a bid to drive further energy efficiencies. The system has been designed by Enzen, which is also a tenant at the business park, and is said to reduce the use of electricity by more than 60 per cent.

IM Properties has already invested in the £90,000 technology and said that, if successful, the system could be rolled out across other sites within its own portfolio of properties.

It would also provide Enzen with a living lab to showcase the products to other organisations.

IM Properties’ asset director Rob Hemus said: “Despite lockdown, we decided to proceed with the project as there are wider environmental and sustainability gains for the park and it was a chance to carry out a major infrastructure project without disruption to our occupiers.

“The new system should begin to deliver savings on the electricity used by the streetlighting immediately.

“Since we bought Blythe Valley Park in 2014, we have invested steadily in the on-site infrastructure and this latest initiative is part of our ongoing strategy to add value for occupiers.”