Super Eco

Photo credit: BeverlyLR, SXC

If there's one thing Ireland has plenty of, it's water. Usually it's dripping from the skies but it can also be found in the many beautiful rivers that criss-cross the country. Taking advantage of that perpetual renewable resource makes perfect sense, which is why it doesn't surprise us that Ireland is now testing a water-powered street light.  Here's how the water light works:

The €3000 light system (the “hydro light” from LH Ecotech Ltd) will be installed on a bridge over the River Finn in Ballybofey, County Donegal. A 110 watt micro hydro-turbine will be placed under the bridge after winter water levels drop a bit to make the installation easier. As water moves through turbine, the energy generated will charge batteries, which will then power the 30 watt LED mounted above the bridge. The turbine will actually power three such lights but the cautious Ballybofians are just going with the one for now.

The water light will be flanked by two solar powered lights (already installed, also by LH Ecotech), and there'll be a solar panel on the water light itself as a backup for summer (when there's actually sun from time to time) and for when water levels drop.

The Ballybofey hydro light is actually the first such installation for LH Ecotech, a fledgling company out of County Laois.

€3000 for a single light? It sounds rather expensive but the cost to run it after installation won't be much. After all, it's powered by water, something Ireland will likely always have a fair amount of. We can imagine hydro lights someday lighting many of the bridges of the world.