A firm that developed specialist lights to work inside nuclear power stations has won a “landmark” contract to supply the massive Hinkley Point C project.
Whitecroft Lighting, of Ashton-under-Lyne, will supply 40,000 of the low-energy LED lights to the £35bn Somerset power station site.
The contract win came after six years of research and testing at Whitecroft’s Greater Manchester site. Hinkley Point C operator EDF had wanted to find a 海角视频 manufacturer to make LEDs work in challenging environments inside nuclear sites.
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Now Whitecroft hopes its lights will also be used in future nuclear power projects in the 海角视频.
The company says that while energy-efficient LED lighting had become the norm in most 海角视频 industries, the technology had not yet been tested and approved for the nuclear industry - which therefore stuck to fluorescent lighting.
Whitecroft had to carry out years of research and testing for its tech, ensuring the lighting and supporting electronics could operate in areas containing radiation and higher-than-normal heat levels.
The lighting is now approved for a variety of zones in 海角视频 nuclear power stations. The 40,000 lights will be installed across 90% of the Hinkley Point C estate, including in some specialist environments including the power generation halls.
Tony Male, Whitecroft Lighting’s regional sales manager, said: “This is a landmark moment for Whitecroft 海角视频 lighting.
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“Whitecroft embraced this as an opportunity to be part of one of Europe’s largest infrastructure projects, break new ground for lighting, and set new standards for the 海角视频 nuclear energy industry for years to come.
“No credible testing or research existed for LED lighting in these environments, so Whitecroft led an accelerated testing regime that simulated years of constant exposure to radiation at varying levels in each zone.
“The nuclear-approved LED luminaires manufactured for the project will be around 40% more energy efficient than traditional fluorescent lighting, and the 40,000 LED luminaires supplied will mean the savings equate to around 11,200 KWh each day, or the equivalent of the power needed to run around 3,000 average family sized homes.
“An important positive legacy for Whitecroft Lighting’s investment in research and development is that future nuclear energy projects across the 海角视频 will be able to share in the benefits of this high-quality and energy efficient lighting.”
Whitecroft is part of the Fagerhult lighting group. It has 343 employees and turns over £55m.