Hurricane Destruction
Few natural disasters are more destructive than hurricanes. In 2023, the United States faced 28 individual weather and climate disasters with losses exceeding $1 billion each. Disruptions to rail lines after a hurricane not only cost time and resources for rail companies but also can have a cascading effect across a regional supply chain. Getting rail lines back up and running, and ensuring critical infrastructure remains operational, can help a region begin to rebuild after a disaster.
In the Atlantic Basin, hurricane season typically occurs between mid-August and mid-October. Yet the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration has identified May 1-5, 2024 as National Hurricane Preparedness Week, speaking volumes to the importance of creating a plan well in advance of these devastating storms.
RedHawk Energy’s P250i Solid Oxide Fuel Cells have been a trusted backup power supply for customers in the rail, telecommunications, and critical infrastructure industries. Their low maintenance, high-efficiency design makes them the ideal product for natural disaster response.
Solid Oxide Fuel Cells
Clean, Reliable Energy
Our leading power source for customers in the hurricane zone is our P250i Solid Oxide Fuel Cells. Powered by propane, they can provide days, weeks, or even months of reliable, clean backup power for critical rail infrastructure during a natural disaster or power outage. Just two BBQ-style propane tanks can provide 130-160 hours of run time. The P250i utilizes a non-polluting electrochemical process to generate electricity, emitting only water and heat as byproducts. It requires no ongoing maintenance and can sit in standby mode for months to years while maintaining battery voltage. The unit, safely enclosed in a NEMA outdoor-rated enclosure, will power on automatically when needed and return to standby mode when regional power sources are restored.
Better Alternative to Gas or Diesel Generators
While conventional diesel and gas generators have been widely used to provide backup power during natural disasters, they require ongoing maintenance to stay operational. This means sending personnel into the field during or just after a hurricane to refuel the units every 8-10 hours. In times of crisis, noisy and attention-grabbing gas and diesel generators are prone to theft. The P250i can be monitored and operated remotely and requires no regular maintenance.
Trusted Performance
Over the past decade, RedHawk Energy has deployed over 1,500 P250i units, ensuring dependable and efficient supplemental power for highway crossings, rail signals, telecom equipment, weather stations, emergency management systems, and more. Visit our product page to read more case studies of individual industry applications.
In 2023, our P250i Solid Oxide Fuel Cell was selected as a C&S products category winner of Progressive Railroading’s 4th annual Reader’s Choice Awards program. This award recognizes and celebrates elite products, voted for by the magazine’s subscribers, that best meet the industry’s needs. Our team at RedHawk Energy is incredibly proud of this accomplishment.
Contact Us
Investing in clean and reliable backup energy sources today can help your company save valuable time, money, and resources when a hurricane strikes. To learn more about how a P250i Solid Oxide Fuel Cell could help your railway, contact our RedHawk Energy team today.