Edison Next drives Alcalá Luce, innovation and sustainability to rediscover Alcalá de Henares at night.

The City Council of Alcalá de Henares has launched one of the most ambitious monumental lighting projects in recent years. Under the name Alcalá Luce, the initiative proposes a new way of interacting with the city’s historical heritage, integrating criteria of sustainability, technological innovation, and heritage respect to transform the nighttime experience of the historic center. Edison Next Spain will be responsible for developing this project, conceived not only as an aesthetic renovation of the lighting but also as a comprehensive urban intervention in which light becomes a tool aimed at improving energy efficiency, reducing environmental impact, and enhancing the value of the Complutense architectural heritage. One of the main challenges of Alcalá Luce is the intervention on a historic center of high cultural and architectural value, where many existing installations are obsolete or have limited visibility at night. The project will allow for the recovery of the nighttime presence of the city’s most emblematic buildings, improve the perception of volumes and construction details, and offer citizens a clearer and more coherent reading of the monumental complex. From a technical point of view, Edison Next’s approach is based on the premise of intervening on the heritage with the least possible intrusion. To this end, completely reversible solutions adapted to the characteristics of each building will be applied, combining high-efficiency LED technology, precise control of lighting levels, and respectful integration into the urban and landscape environment. Alcalá Luce is structured around two main axes that, together, will configure a continuous nighttime route through the historic center. The first develops in the surroundings of Plaza de San Lucas, the main access point to the historic center from the train station. From there, the lighting renovation will advance towards Calle Libreros, reinforcing its role as a cultural axis and as a transition towards the monumental heart of the city. The project sets a minimum reduction of 30% in greenhouse gas emissions compared to the previous lighting. This objective will be achieved mainly through the replacement of old luminaires with state-of-the-art LED technology equipment, along with intelligent control systems that will allow lighting to be adapted to the actual use of the spaces and optimize energy consumption. The second axis of action is located in one of the most representative heritage areas of Alcalá de Henares, on the route connecting Plaza de los Santos Niños with such emblematic sites as the Palacio Arzobispal, the Monasterio de San Bernardo, or the facade of the University of Alcalá. In this area, the new lighting will seek to visually organize the nighttime space, reinforce the cultural reading of the architectural complex, and improve the experience for residents and visitors. To maximize its commitment to sustainability, the project also incorporates a photovoltaic installation aimed at reducing non-renewable energy consumption, reinforcing the energy efficiency approach that guides the entire intervention. With an awarded investment of 567,672 euros, Alcalá Luce becomes a new way of approaching lighting in historical environments, understanding it as an intelligent, efficient infrastructure aligned with current environmental challenges. The project will help consolidate a more sustainable city model, in which technological innovation is placed at the service of heritage and urban quality of life. This ambitious project will allow for the construction of a new nighttime experience for Alcalá de Henares, in which light will act as a cultural guide, an element of urban cohesion, and a tool for energy efficiency. For Edison Next, initiatives like Alcalá Luce reflect their special way of understanding urban lighting as a driver of sustainable innovation, capable of improving the citizen experience and supporting public administrations in the transition towards more efficient, responsible urban models that respect their cultural value.