From darkness to light: 180 years of history of public lighting that changed cities

Stable and continuous public lighting was a milestone in urban modernization. Historian Nuria Rodríguez explains how companies such as the Catalan Society for Lighting, parent company of the current Naturgy, were fundamental in this evolution. The energy company, committed to sustainable development, continues working to offer increasingly cleaner energy sources.

Until the mid-19th century, time was not marked by clocks, but by the sun. When there was light you could work and live in the streets, but with the night came insecurity and people had to take refuge at home. Therefore, bringing light to cities was a great revolution that changed urban life forever.

What turned the tables was gas street lighting. “It could be offered continuously and was stable. This changed life in the cities,” defends Rodríguez. This historic moment occurred in Spain, specifically in Barcelona, ​​in 1843, with the constitution of the Catalan Society for Gas Lighting. “It is a milestone in the economic modernization of the country,” summarizes the doctor in Modern and Contemporary History. 180 years later, this entity evolved and expanded its activities until it became the current Naturgy, the energy company that, without forgetting its origins, is in the process of transforming its historic business model to continue creating value for society through development of renewable energies.

Building of the Catalan Society for Gas Lighting.NATURGY

The purpose they had in the 19th century was to save hours at night. “The streetlights offer benefits for personal safety and also for traffic,” explains Rodríguez, who adds that they contributed to increasing the working day, but also the leisure and entertainment time of the population. In that sense, the presence of these energy companies was key to “social, cultural and economic” progress.

“Cities would not have developed to become as we know them today without this type of public lighting. We could not talk about urban modernization,” says the historian, who adds that the aforementioned lighting system began to be implemented at a time when cities were growing physically and demographically. This situation meant that the public lighting also had to evolve.

The 20th century brought electricity as the main energy to power public lighting and the year 2008 was the year of the birth of the first integrated gas and electricity company in Spain, after the merger by absorption of Unión Fenosa by Gas Natural, Brand in which led, over the years, to the Catalan Society for Gas Lighting.

“In these 180 years, lighting and these companies have been modernizing and adapting to technological and technical advances,” emphasizes Nuria Rodríguez. Currently, gas no longer comes from burning coal, but is natural gas, and the next step is renewable gas, in which Naturgy is well positioned thanks to its leadership in the conventional natural gas market. The development of biomethane and green hydrogen are part of the company’s future vision to transform its current business model and establish the foundations to continue creating value through the energy transition.

Madrid general electricity company.NATURGY

If economic growth has made anything clear, it is the need to find new solutions that guarantee a sustainable, efficient, safe and environmentally friendly energy supply. Therefore, currently, the energy company’s challenges are growth in renewable energies, promoting innovation and development of renewable gas projects, offering sustainable mobility solutions and protecting biodiversity in its operations, implementing best practices.

These almost two centuries of History have given Naturgy the experience that supports its solidity and guarantees a future that is committed to comfort and a more intelligent use of energy. A future where we can continue to illuminate our lives, but without leaving aside the commitment to the comfort and well-being of people and environments, with maximum efficiency and sustainability, and with the same innovative spirit with which they changed lives in 1843. . of cities.