As part of Southdowns recent noise monitoring on the Crossrail C350 Pudding Mill Lane worksite, an alternative source of energy was required to power an unattended remote noise monitor in the absence of any more conventional power supply.
A Hydrogen Fuel Cell was proposed by the contractor Morgan Sindall and with the co-operation of the BOC Linde Group a solution to the problem was found in the form of a Hymera Hydrogen Fuel Cell, which provides electrical power using the energy stored in hydrogen.
The Fuel Cell generates enough energy to power the noise meter for approximately 1 year without refuelling and its use is understood to be a first on the Crossrail Project.