Bridges Flood Monitoring
Solar Power System
Bridges Ltd partnered with Prolectric to develop a fully autonomous solar power solution for a new flood monitoring installation programme across multiple water treatment sites.
The system needed to power conductivity sensors and warning beacons continuously, 24 hours a day, 365 days a year, without relying on a grid connection. The solution also had to perform reliably through winter months, low solar yield and exposed environmental conditions.
Working closely with Bridges’ technical team, Prolectric engineered a bespoke solar-powered monitoring system, designed specifically to deliver year-round reliability for remote infrastructure applications.
Background
In early 2025, Bridges Ltd was appointed as a delivery partner on a solar-powered flood monitoring installation programme across several water treatment sites.
Within each treatment works are underground chambers containing pipes that carry fresh water supplies. During periods of heavy rainfall, these chambers can fill with flood water, creating a potential risk of contamination if water enters the clean supply network.
To mitigate this risk, conductivity sensor probes are installed inside the chambers to detect rising water levels. When predefined thresholds are reached, above-ground beacon lights activate to alert site teams, enabling immediate action.
A key requirement of the scheme was that the monitoring system must be powered entirely by renewable energy, removing the need for permanent grid connections and ensuring reliable operation in remote or difficult-to-access locations.
The Challenge
The flood monitoring system needed to operate continuously throughout the year, including during winter when solar generation is at its lowest.
Bridges was delivering the programme within a competitive environment and required a high-quality engineered solution capable of supporting critical infrastructure monitoring without compromise.
Key challenges included:
- Designing a fully autonomous solar power system with no grid dependency
- Ensuring reliable performance during winter months and low light conditions
- Creating a solution capable of withstanding exposed environments and high winds
- Integrating multiple components – sensors, relays and beacon alerts – into a single dependable system
Recognising Prolectric’s expertise in permanent off-grid solar infrastructure, Bridges engaged Prolectric to help turn the concept into a manufacturable and deployment-ready solution.
The Solution
Following a joint design and scoping phase, Prolectric took responsibility for engineering and manufacturing the solar power system for the flood monitoring installations.
The final system design included:
- 1.8m galvanised steel column designed for permanent installation
- 200W solar PV array optimised for year-round energy capture
- Custom flanged base plate allowing secure mounting to a concrete plinth
- Sealed enclosure housing relay switches and interfaces for conductivity sensors
Prolectric’s engineering team conducted structural and wind-load calculations to ensure the column, brackets and beacon mounts could withstand exposed environments.
Drawing on experience from designing permanent solar street lighting infrastructure, the system was engineered to deliver consistent performance during winter and extended periods of low solar generation.
A complete system wiring diagram was produced and reviewed with Bridges’ technical team before production began, ensuring confidence in the design prior to deployment.
Three prototype units were manufactured and delivered, supported by a detailed installation guide, allowing Bridges’ site teams to assemble and install the systems safely and efficiently.
The Outcome
The ProSense solar-powered flood monitoring units have performed reliably through the winter period, maintaining continuous operation even during periods of lowest solar yield.
By removing the need for a grid connection, the system delivers several operational benefits:
- Eliminates reliance on external power infrastructure
- Reduces carbon impact through 100% renewable operation
- Improves resilience by avoiding downtime associated with grid outages
- Supports the client’s sustainability objectives while maintaining operational safety
The project demonstrates how engineered, site-specific solar power systems can enable critical monitoring infrastructure in locations where traditional power sources are impractical or undesirable.
Why ProSense?
ProSense is designed to power remote monitoring, environmental sensors and infrastructure applications where reliable off-grid energy is essential. Enabling organisations to deploy critical monitoring systems without compromising on resilience, sustainability or long-term performance.
What our clients have to say
We needed a solar power solution we could trust to operate year-round without a grid connection. Prolectric worked closely with our team to engineer a system that met those requirements without compromise. Their technical expertise and thorough design process gave us confidence from the outset, and the units have performed reliably through winter. Prolectric were proactive, knowledgeable and easy to work with throughout the project.
Neil Ashwood
Senior Proposals Engineer
Need to Power Remote Monitoring Infrastructure Without the Grid
Prolectric’s ProSense solar power systems enable sensors, monitoring equipment and communications infrastructure to operate reliably in remote or off-grid locations.
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