SUNBELT Rentals, Balfour Beatty and the Environment Agency are participating in a hydrogen fuel-cell trial as part of the Canvey Island Southern Shoreline Revetment project.
The Canvey Island project was designed to renew and improve 3km of shoreline flood defences, protecting the community against rising sea levels. Sustainability has been a key focus, with the team choosing eco-friendly technologies such as EcoSense welfare cabins, energy management systems, battery storage units, solar frames and rainwater harvesting systems.
Part of the project included the trial of a hydrogen powered fuel-cell generator, tested over four weeks. This approach is said to mark a ‘significant step’ towards creating a zero-carbon site and showcases hydrogen as a potential alternative for off-grid temporary power.
The hydrogen generator, supplied by Sunbelt Rentals in partnership with EODev and Hydrologiq, delivered 24/7 silent power throughout the duration of the test.
Over the course of the trial, the entire site consumed 202.5kg of green hydrogen, which produced 3,310 kWh of energy with an average generator efficiency of 49%. This resulted in a reduction of 4,256 kg of CO2 emissions, eliminating the direct scope 1 emissions associated with powering the compound.
George Woodiwiss, sustainable applications manager at Sunbelt Rentals, said, “Projects such as Canvey Island are a must for us to build our foundations, knowledge, and experience that we all need to succeed in creating a new landscape where hydrogen powered solutions start penetrating today’s current methods at scale. This trial demonstrates the power of a collaborative approach and desire to move forwards with emerging technologies that can make a difference to our planet and our future.”
Mehrnoosh Khan, energy graduate at Balfour Beatty, added, “Our long-term goal is to reach a point whereby it’s the first choice of fuel/energy, providing a zero-emission solution to powering all our projects.”
Aran Bates, CEO of Hydrologiq, stated, “As consensus grows that hydrogen plays a key role in removing diesel from construction sites, the key to its acceptance lies in seamless integration. We need collaboration across the entire supply chain, ensuring that the physical, digital, process and regulatory pieces all come together to unlock the true potential of this fuel source.”
