TCP Group have reached the milestone of operating a fleet of 500 hydrogen fuel-cell mobile lighting towers available to hire, with the support of a fully managed service.

“The TCP Ecolite TH200 (hydrogen fuel-cell mobile lighting tower) is an increasingly popular choice where temporary lighting is required and as companies look for clean energy solutions to reduce carbon emissions. We have an ever-growing demand for this particular lighting tower, and we committed to the provision of 500 towers by July 2024. With large infrastructure projects moving forward, such as Sizewell C and the Lower Thames Crossing, this temporary lighting solution is the No.1 choice, as they are silent running, no spill risk and zero emission at point of use,” said Jim Irvine, Operations and Development Director, TCP Group.

Positive customer experience
Many customers have already benefitted from deploying TCP’s hydrogen fuel-cell lighting towers. Back in 2015, Costain used them on the Cross Rail project, and they were used for much of the HS2 project. TCP Group works regularly with the Environment Agency, in partnership with Jackson Civil Engineering, to provide clean energy solutions for works such as lock repairs.

“We have steadily grown the fleet of hydrogen mobile lighting towers in recent years. As a company faithful to recycling where possible, we have remanufactured hundreds of our diesel-powered lighting towers to use hydrogen fuel-cells and gas cylinders. Our added value is to provide a fully managed gas service. Gas usage is monitored remotely and when a hydrogen gas cylinder needs exchanging, the TCP team make arrangements with the customer to replace the empty cylinder with a full one and then take the empty one away” said Joe Ambor, Sales Director, TCP Group.

Health and Wellbeing
TCP Group has always a focus on the effects on health with issues caused by diesel emissions. A partnership was formed with BOC in 2010, to replace diesel fuel with hydrogen fuel-cells in lighting towers to transform lighting solutions for site operations, making them better neighbours, with fewer health dangers to site workers whilst helping to drive against climate change.

The hydrogen fuel-cell lighting towers are fitted with Prismalence lenses. These unique lenses create controlled light distribution meaning the uniformity is far superior than other competitors. Artificial lighting can have a negative effect on health and can cause fatigue, headaches and even stress symptoms. The Prismalence lenses have low glare, good visibility, good colour rendering and no flickering. Consequently, the light frequency is a much more comfortable light to work by, increasing employee wellbeing and jobsite safety.