Case study: Painshill Landscape Garden Hydrogen Fuel Cell Lighting

TCP (Taylor Construction Plant) wanted to identify an opportunity to demonstrate the advantages of using hydrogen fuel light towers to eliminate carbon emissions, noise pollution and reduce the risk of fuel spills within an environmentally sensitive heritage site.

Project Summary 

TCP introduced themselves to Painshill’s 18^th century landscape garden in Cobham, Surrey. Previously this popular tourist attraction had hired traditional lighting towers for its Christmas event to light up the car park and pathway to its Visitor Centre. TCP suggested that they support the event by providing hydrogen fuel cell light towers as a clean air alternative to diesel.

The solution 

Three Ecolite TH200 hydrogen light towers were positioned to light up some of the dark off-grid areas leading into the landscape garden. TCP used interpretation boards to tell visitors more about the light tower which was developed in partnership with BOC, a member of The Linde Group, and how it produces electricity from the reaction between hydrogen and atmospheric oxygen; and that the only emission is water vapour.

In addition, TCP supplied Painshill with its new LPG 2500 Power Pack which also provides a clean air alternative to diesel generators for off-grid applications. This new compact lightweight battery pack was used in the landscape garden wherever possible to power some of the lights in the Festive Illuminations display.

The results 

TCP successfully demonstrated that the hydrogen light towers were effective in lighting off-grid areas of the landscape garden without producing air pollution. It was also recognised by some of the visitors that the light towers were virtually silent in operation and the information on the interpretation boards was well received.

The units, which use Prismatic Lens technology to reduce light pollution and unwanted glare, also helped to reduce disturbance to the wildlife and neighbouring houses.

Over the course of 30 days, the Ecolite TH200 hydrogen light towers collectively delivered over 500 hours of light with only 6kg of hydrogen being used during the process.

“The light towers we used this year are fantastic, they are silent, use no fossil fuels and give a fabulous amount of light. After using the diesel-powered ones in the past and now experiencing these ones it would be unlikely for us to return to the old ones,” said Andy Mills, Painshill Estate Manager.

Summary
• No CO2 emissions, noise pollution or light pollution
• Ability to light off grid areas of the landscape garden
• Reduced impact on the environment and wildlife through the use of Prismatic lens technology

All news