Dubai: Italy wants to share its sustainable tech solutions with the world. It aims to begin with its showcase at Expo 2020 Dubai, which kicks off on October 1, with two light installations - Second Sun and Second Moon – and a smart metering system.
The country’s pavilion, located in the Opportunity District, will feature lightscapes, designed by smart energy solutions provider Enel X, based on Internet of Things (IoT) technology.
Francesco Starace, CEO and General Manager of Enel, explained, "The universal exposition that will be held in Dubai will be a unique opportunity to promote sustainable development models and responsible energy consumption practices. We are proud to bring the group's innovation and technologies to lighting and consumption monitoring as examples of our commitment to electrification, new uses of energy, digitalisation and network resilience.
“These are elements that, together with the development of renewables, see us committed to the transition towards a sustainable energy future in line with the UN development goals," he added.
How the light installations work
‘Second Sun’ and ‘Second Moon’ have a diameter of 5 feet (1.5 metres) each and are adorned with 320 LED lights. By using video cameras tethered to the IoT system, the total number of visitors at the pavilion can be detected in real time. The data so garnered will determine lightscapes at the pavillion.
Meanwhile, the 'Second Sun’s power lines will be connected to a smart-metering system. This will simulate real-time monitoring of a home's energy consumption over the course of a day.
Paolo Glisenti, General Commissioner for Italy's participation in Expo 2020 Dubai, said, "The partnership with Enel will allow Italy to present at Expo 2020 Dubai an excellent demonstration model of ecological and energy transition in the first global event after the pandemic.
"Enel's extraordinary installations, which will illuminate the visitors' path step by step by measuring their emotions, will contribute to making our pavilion the first totally decarbonised habitat, energy self-sufficient, at the forefront of new smart sustainability technologies," he added.
The Italy pavilion at Expo 2020 will be open to visitors, when the world’s greatest show begins on October 1, 2021.
-The writer is an intern with Gulf News.
