Can solar energy be used in cellular base stations?

One obstacle of entry of solar energy to cellular base stations is an intensive power requirement of the current base stations. As a result, the electronic industry is exploring new methods to reduce the power requirements for the electronic equipment used in the base stations.

Are solar powered cellular base stations a viable solution?

Cellular base stations powered by renewable energy sources such as solar power have emerged as one of the promising solutions to these issues. This article presents an overview of the state-of- the-art in the design and deployment of solar powered cellular base stations.

How many solar-powered base stations does Verizon have?

Verizon has about 20 solar-powered base stations. T-Mobile, one of the earliest big carriers to switch on a fully solar-powered cell site in 2011, has added renewables to more sites and sometimes uses solar energy as temporary backup power, a practice that the company said it will expand in the coming years.

How to design a solar-powered base station?

In order to design and implement a solar-powered base station, PVSYST simulation software has been used in various countries including India, Nigeria, Morocco, and Sweden. This software allows for estimation of the number of PV panels, batteries, inverters, and cost of production of energy considering the geographical and other design parameters.

How many kilowatts does a cellular base station use?

The average cellular base station, which comprises the tower and the radio equipment attached to it, can use anywhere from about one to five kilowatts (kW), depending on whether the radio equipment is housed in an air-conditioned building, how old the tower is and how many transceivers are in the base station.

How much will solar power cost in 2020?

By 2020 the annual cost of using diesel is expected to be more than $20,000 whereas the cost of solar and batteries will likely fall to less than $5,500. Renewable options also become much more viable as the amount of energy needed to power base stations is reduced.