Lessons Learned from Off-Grid Battery-Solar-Generator Energy Hybrid Cell-Site Installations in Southern California

Inhalt:
Though a pervasive and stable utility grid exists in the United States, the deployment of off-grid telecom cellular sites (Radio Base Stations – RBS) continues to expand. This is driven by the hyper-competitive market in most U.S. regions and the desire of providers to meet consumer expectation to be wired into the network at work, in transit or at play – in the city, desert, forest or up in the mountains – at all times and everywhere. The pressure to migrate to solar energy is a result of: ? Greening: The desired and sometimes legislated pressure to reduce CO2 emissions. ? Reduction of acoustic noise: Improve quality of life or experience at a locale. ? OPEX: Reduce operating costs, maintenance and/or total cost of operation. ? Other: Solving other logistical or local challenges, such as seasonal fuel delivery limitations. The effective implementation of solar at telecom sites brings new challenges and the need to adapt, including: ? Moving from deploying discrete power parts to managing a site’s energy, with a common infrastructure model across all loads and services ? While the focus typically falls on big-ticket items, many of the problems are the result of small details and supporting subsystems. ? Support from all suppliers: The need for all suppliers to support this migration, from the provider of the radio equipment to the generator supplier who may still insist on an AC circuit to support a starter battery recharger. ? Landscaping and community acceptance: Working with architects, real estate owners, government services and the local community to stop “hiding” the telecom site, but actively displaying and promoting the solution as a part of the human environment. ? Security: Off-grid sites have become an attractive target for theft of copper and fuel, and occasionally even solar equipment or power. Security solutions include extensions of what is done today, but there are new answers that could be carried back to normal telecom operations. ? Education for planner: Knowledge to make an effective transition to solar includes a stronger understanding of the demand (load and supplementary functions) of the whole infrastructure and what practically can or cannot be done. ? Performance management and the boots on the ground: How does the technician know the system is performing well or receive notification the system needs attention? As off-grid sites often require a substantial “truck-roll” for support, the path forward is to migrate to proactive planning for service and replacement.