The lights are being recognised as a viable off-grid alternative by contractors looking to reduce their use of conventional diesel systems.

Manufacturer Prolectric said main contractors including Skanska, Costain and Carillion Rail have sent demand soaring for its mobile solar powered tower lights.

A total of 68 temporary solar-powered lights were either hired or purchased as an alternative to conventional diesel-generator lighting during September.

The rising order book follows successful trials of the clean, silent, solar trailer with contractors on projects including Hinkley Point, HS2, M1 Smart Motorway and A14 during the past six months.

Chris Williams Managing Director of Prolectric said: “Contractors are seeing mobile solar lighting as a ‘quick win’, off-grid alternative to conventional internal combustion or even hybrid technology. Solar-powered mobile lighting is a reliable year-round replacement for the thousands of diesel-generator tower lights that are ubiquitous on projects up and down the country.

“The success comes partly from the fact that we were able to develop a trailer light with a solar array three times the power of that of any other solar light previously available.

“We also built in ‘smart’ technology so the unit’s on and off times could be controlled automatically and data on power usage and carbon savings is monitored remotely.

“Prolectric has developed an estimation tool to help contractors understand the cost and carbon comparison with conventional diesel lighting fuel consumption.

“We calculate that every ProLight represents an annual saving of around 6 tonnes of carbon when compared to the popular VB9 diesel generator.

“That means for a major infrastructure project using, say 100 units, simply switching from diesel to solar lights could deliver an annual project saving of 600 tonnes of carbon straight away.

“Especially when multiple lights are used on major projects, this smart, clean technology reduces carbon, NOx and PM emissions and is a very visible sign of a contractor’s commitment to health and safety and Corporate Social Responsibility.”