Solar panels to help light up Fidra Lighthouse once again

An issue with the electrical mains supply to the lighthouse on Fidra means that the light has not operated since the end of March.

Now, permission has been given for four solar panels, which it is hoped will help to ensure that it is lit once again.

East Lothian Council’s planning department approved Forth Ports Limited’s application after receiving no comments from members of the public.

A document included with the application highlighted the problems facing the lighthouse on Fidra, which is about 300m north of Yellowcraig Beach.

READ MORE: Solar panels planned to power Fidra Island lighthouse

It reads: “The lighthouse was the first Scottish lighthouse to be automated and has been operated since the 1970s using mains electricity with a limited battery back-up to cover power outages.

“The mains electricity supply to Fidra Lighthouse comes from the East Lothian coast via an aging cable infrastructure consisting of a combination of underground and subsea cabling and suspended cables over the island to the lighthouse.

“In recent years, there have been intermittent power supply issues which Scottish Power Energy Networks (SPEN), the distribution and transmission network operator, has been able to repair and reinstate power in a relatively timely manner.

“On March 31, 2024, however, the electrical mains supply to the lighthouse failed and the light has not operated since.

“To date, and notwithstanding that this classification of navigation light is only permitted 18 hours outage in a whole year, SPEN have not been able to repair the infrastructure and reinstate the supply.

“Discussions with SPEN have identified that the existing aging infrastructure needs to be replaced and that the cost of this work is somewhere in the order of £1m to £10m.

Solar panels will be installed at the lighthouse on Fidra (Image: Copyright Adam Ward and licensed for reuse under this Creative Commons Licence.)

“This investment is not a priority for SPEN.

“To ensure compliance with their statutory duties, therefore, Forth Ports has consequently been forced to consider alternative means of ensuring the operation of the navigation light.”

The solution is to put in place solar panels, which will be installed on the watchroom level railings.

The move means that Fidra Lighthouse will follow a similar route to that taken at Port Glasgow Lighthouse, to the south of the River Clyde.

Fidra, which is managed by the RSPB, is clearly visible from the windows of Marine Villa, near Yellowcraig, where Robert Louis Stevenson is reputed to have written the first draft of Treasure Island.

Fidra is managed by the RSPB (Image: Copyright Richard Webb and licensed for reuse under this Creative Commons Licence.)

With a large natural arch at the northern end, the shape of the island is also thought to be the inspiration for Stevenson’s map of the fictional south sea island.

The planning officials gave listed building consent with two conditions: that work will start within three years and that, if the solar panels are no longer required, then they shall be removed from the lighthouse within three months.