SOLAR panels could be used to power a lighthouse on the island which is thought to have inspired Robert Louis Stevenson’s Treasure Island.
Fidra Lighthouse was built on the island in 1885 to the design of Thomas Stevenson – father of Robert Louis Stevenson – and his brother David.
Since then, it has been an iconic landmark on the island, which is about 300m north of Yellowcraig Beach.
However, an issue with the light means that steps are now being taken to explore the possibility of solar panels being used to ensure it is lit once again.
Forth Ports Limited has submitted an application for listed building consent to East Lothian Council to allow it to install the panels on the island, which is managed by the RSPB.
The lighthouse was the first of its kind in Scotland to be automated and has operated since the 1970s using mains electricity with a limited battery back-up to cover power outages.
A design and access statement notes: “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, ScottishPower Energy Networks (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.
“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.
“Forth Ports now propose to replace the existing lantern and its supporting electronics with a new solar-powered battery charging system which will power a new lantern.
“This will make the lighthouse self-sufficient in terms of power and remove the need to rely on mains electricity.”
A total of four panels are planned for the lighthouse.
Four locations were considered, with the watchroom level railings the preferred site due to a number of benefits, including the ability to fix the panels facing south and the number of panels being kept to a minimum.
The move would see Fidra Lighthouse follow a similar route to that taken at Port Glasgow Lighthouse, to the south of the River Clyde.
Fidra Lighthouse is similar to Inchkeith Lighthouse (1803) but is, according to the plans, “less architecturally grand”.
Original drawings show that Fidra Lighthouse was originally larger, with single-storey accommodation around its two-storey main block and tower.
Today, only the two-storey block and lantern tower survive.
Fidra 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.
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.
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