The historic South Gare lighthouse, situated at the mouth of the River Tees, is now being powered by a fuel cell, despite its hostile location.
Part of a project run by The Centre for Process Innovation (CPI), PD Ports (who run the lighthouse), Schunk (who manufactured the fuel cell stack) and Air Products (a leading manufacturer of hydrogen energy applications), the move demonstrates the advance of fuel cell potential.
The lighthouse, built in 1884, plays a central part in the running of Teesport, one of the UK’s busiest ports. As it is regularly hit by high winds and rough seas, it therefore needed a special unit to be developed to withstand the environment.
“Fuel cells have the potential to be an important component of our future energy supply along with the likes of tidal/wave, wind and solar powers, nuclear and some fossil fuel, though we know these have a finite lifespan.
“Due to the fact that fossil fuels are limited and will run out at some point, and because of their possible contribution to climate change, we must work hard to find other viable energy solutions – from renewable sources as much as possible. We have proved at South Gare that fuel cells can operate in critical applications,” commented CPI’s chief executive Nigel Perry.
Locked in a cupboard
The hydrogen fuel cell has been in place and supplying power to the South Gare light, which is visible for 25 miles, for a number of months now. It is housed in a cabinet attached to the lighthouse.
PD Ports, who are used to dealing with unpredictable weather conditions and the demands that these put on energy requirements, have been using renewable energy for some time to power some of its essential functions.
Commenting on the move, Andrew Ridley, conservancy operations manager for PD Ports said: “Over a number of years PD Ports has championed the use of renewable energy sources to power its aids for navigation. These aids include solar, wind and wave power, and have been primarily used to operate our navigation buoys, which are subject to the unpredictable forces of the North Sea.
“The implementation of a hydrogen fuel cell to power the South Gare Light House demonstrates how such new and innovative energy sources can be used to power critical safety aids in a hostile environment whilst delivering both environmental and economic benefits.”
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Date Published: November 12, 2007
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