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St Martin’s Point in Guernsey gets a solar upgrade

A navigation light off Guernsey’s south-east coast will be powered by the sun.

Constructed in 1854, St Martin’s Point Light emits red and white lights to help vessels navigate off Guernsey’s south-east coast.

It has historically relied on power delivered via a 480-metre-long electrical cable buried beneath the coastal footpath.

Instead of replacing the ageing equipment, at the estimated cost of £100,000, Guernsey Ports has decided to convert the site to solar power.

Technical Services Manager Mark Rive says solar is a sustainable option.

“The lighthouse has historically been powered by an electrical sub-main cable which runs all the way from Jerbourg car park, down the cliff path, and across the bridge.

"It’s a long and expensive way to deliver power to such a remote site.

“By switching to solar power, we’re modernising our infrastructure, standardising our operations and providing a more cost-effective long-term solution.

"We can check battery levels, charging efficiency, and light operation remotely, which helps to resolve any small issues before they develop into 
larger ones."

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