The light at St Martin’s Point will be powered by the sun in future after Guernsey Ports decided not to replace the long electrical cable that supplies power to the navigational aid.
The States body says not replacing the 480m long cable, which is buried under the cliff path, will save over £100,000.
The installation of solar panels will provide a cost effective and sustainable solution for the 19th century light station, it added.
Technical Services Manager Mark Rive said replacing and maintaining the current cable which runs from Jerboury car park is “a long and expensive way to deliver power to such a remote site.
“By switching to solar power, we’re modernising our infrastructure, standardising our operations and providing a more cost-effective long-term solution.”
He pointed to other examples of solar panels being used on local offshore aids, including Platte Fougere Lighthouse, which have been adapted to provide reliable energy supplies throughout the year.
All information from solar stations feeds into a central network and can be reviewed on an app by Guernsey Ports staff, and it sends out email alerts when there are issues.
Mr Rive said it gives teams “much greater visibility of performance in real time, without needing to attend in person. We can check battery levels, charging efficiency, and light operation remotely, which helps to resolve any small issues before they develop into larger ones.
“Having a standardised, connected network of solar-powered sites across Guernsey not only saves money but it also gives us greater confidence in the long-term performance of these vital aids to navigation.”
St Martin’s Point was constructed in 1854 – one of 60 navigational aids maintained by the States – and public access to it was restored earlier this year after storm damage shuttered the bridge.