Why the Construction Industry Should Switch to Hydrogen Lighting

Andrew Barker, Managing Director of TCP Ltd explains why hydrogen could be lighting the way forward for the construction industry.

With dark nights upon us, construction sites must plan how to remain efficient and work safely through the winter months. Traditionally diesel lighting towers have been the most popular choice for lighting. However, with an ever-increasing need for businesses to reduce their carbon footprint and concerns about the impacts of diesel emissions, civil engineering companies and building contractors should consider alternative solutions.

There is no single substitute. There are a range of technologies that can help including the innovative use of hydrogen fuel cells.

With advances in LED light efficiency and improvements in battery technology we are seeing a wide range of new lighting products, from head-torches to lighting towers. Whilst the head-torch can be recharged at home the battery powered lighting tower is more of a challenge.

Some construction companies have found a more sustainable solution. Manufacturers have addressed the recharging challenge by integrating a diesel generator to produce a ‘hybrid diesel-battery’ lighting tower. Whilst this is a viable alternative, there is still the issue of air and noise pollution when the diesel backup generator runs. Good but perhaps not good enough!

Not only can hydrogen help you to reduce your carbon footprint, it is reliable and easy to use.

Fuel cell generators produce electric power by combining hydrogen with atmospheric oxygen. The only emission from these cells is water vapour, and when in operation they are virtually silent.

When combined with other technologies, hydrogen fuel cells offer many environmental benefits. For example TCP has harnessed the use of Prismatic lens technology to produce light patterns and to reduce light pollution. The ability to control light patterns has many advantages including helping to protect the environment and wildlife from unwanted light glare.

TCP’s range of hydrogen fuel cell lighting solutions has received positive feedback from our construction industry clients. They welcomed the opportunity to switch from diesel, saying that hydrogen ticked all their boxes in terms of reducing air and noise pollution and ensuring reliability. For example, the Ecolite TH200 can deliver more than 120hrs of illumination before needing to exchange the hydrogen cylinders. Another advantages of using hydrogen on a construction site is that it eliminates risk of fuel spill.

When it comes to temporary lighting hydrogen is the best way forward. Switching to a hydrogen fuel cell lighting tower which also uses Prismatic lens technology this winter would help to reduce air, noise and light pollution.

Contact TCP today to see how easy it is to switch to hydrogen: email abarker@tcp.eu.com or call +44(0)1621 850777 (please quote BOC blog).

Interested to find out more? Watch BOC’s hydrogen fuel cell generator and GENIE^® hydrogen cylinders power TCP’s hydrogen fuel cell lighting tower.

Andrew Barker
Managing Director, TCP
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/andrew-barker-086594a/

BOC would like to thank Andrew Barker for his guest blog contribution.