Presenting HyLight: Silent, Low-Emission Portable Lighting

Portable fuel-cell powered lighting system, a perfect replacement for diesel generator powered lighting, particularly in environmentally-sensitive areas.

Arcola Energy, with partners BOC (global industrial gas supplier), and White Light (leading supplier of lighting equipment and services to the entertainment industry) are thrilled to announce the launch of HyLight, a unique portable lighting and power supply to provide illumination in locations away from the electrical grid, silently and without the emissions of traditional noisy, polluting diesel generators.

*** HyLight500: launching 24th May 2011 more info coming soon***

HyLight150 is packaged in a compact wheeled flight-case, rugged for transportation and easy to deploy. The system includes the new Hymera hydrogen fuel cell generator from BOC (made for BOC by Horizon Fuel Cell), two of BOC's new lightweight compressed hydrogen cylinders, and a choice of low energy LED lighting systems suitable for architectural, live event or safety applications.

To ensure reliable operation and provide added flexibility, HyLight's power control system allows seamless switching between mains power, fuel cell power and battery back-up (1 hr). An LCD display provides real-time operating information and user prompts, whilst a data-logger records second-by-second performance. Online tools allow users to analyse their usage profile and determine the carbon footprint of their activities.

HyLight150 packages will include either:

• Four Pulsar ChromaFlood coloured fixtures with wireless DMX remote control – perfect for creating stunning outdoor lighting; or
• 5 flood lights - ideal for car parks and work areas

In addition, a built-in 240V outlet can supply ancilliary equipment

With a rated power output of 150W (200W peak), HyLight will provide many hours of safe, low-voltage power between refills. Run time with a 100W load is 30 hours per hydrogen cylinder. Furthermore, as run-time is directly proportional to load (in marked contrast to diesel generators), in lower power applications such as cordless tool charging, run times of several days are possible from a single hydrogen cylinder.

“HyLight is a continuation of the fantastic collaboration Arcola Theatre and Arcola Energy have enjoyed with White Light over the last few years,” comments Dr Ben Todd of Arcola Energy, “and of a recent research and development project we undertook with the support of the Technology Strategy Board and the Department of Energy and Climate Change (DECC). Their support allowed us to innovate rapidly together, taking lessons we have learnt with running low-energy lighting from the 5kW fuel cell we have at Arcola Theatre and combining that experience with the latest hydrogen and fuel cell technology from BOC and Horizon Fuel Cell to create a small, portable package that offers lower total cost of ownership than diesel generators – and many other practical benefits as well.”

David Bott, Director of Innovation Platforms at the Technology Strategy Board said "this is a great story of a company taking ownership of its carbon emissions and applying its expertise to tackle the problem".

“This is one of the most exciting projects we have ever been involved with,” comments White Light’s Technical Director, Dave Isherwood, “a fantastic collaboration with Arcola Energy, BOC and fuel-cell manufacturer Horizon Fuel Cell Technologies to bring some very advanced fuel cell technology into ‘our’ world of entertainment lighting. We hope the result of our work is that users shouldn’t care about the technology – they should just turn on HyLight, plug in some lights and enjoy silent, clean, reliable power.”

“We don’t expect our customers to necessarily care about the history or technology of the hydrogen fuel cell,” comments Bryan Raven, White Light’s Managing Director. “What we do expect is that they will care greatly that they can have a lighting system that is clean, silent and portable, perfect for lighting events in gardens, parks or the remote, hostile but unspoilt locations featured in projects such as Northumberland Lights. HyLight perfectly complements the range of low-energy LED lighting equipment that we have introduced over the last few years, and the work we have been doing to encourage sustainability in lighting and event production. We think and hope that those who create lighting outdoors are going to be as excited about it as we are.”

Invented by William Grove in 1839, fuel cells have enjoyed a variety of uses since, including as part of the Apollo space programme. Catalysts within the fuel cell membrane split hydrogen molecules into protons and electrons; the protons pass through the membrane and react with oxygen molecules to make water – the cell’s only waste product. Connecting a load across the two sides of the cell allows the electrons created by splitting the hydrogen to flow as electricity. Hydrogen and hydrogen fuel cells are currently being investigated by many industries, with Honda already offering an experimental hydrogen fuel cell electric car in the USA; suppliers such as BOC are working to ensure that the hydrogen used by such products comes from renewable resources.

More information:

- Hi resolution images

- Partner Presentation PLASA 2010

- Daily Telegraph article
- Business Green article
- The Stage article

- TechieTalk listing
- Light & Sound International listing
- UK Sound & Lighting listing
- Lighting & Sound America listing