German carrier Deutsche Telekom announced it has joined with Ericsson to use wind and solar to power a cell site, while optimizing power supply and demand. The goal of the Ericsson-DT partnership is to identify and validate energy efficiency while increasing the usage of renewable energy sources.
In the Bavarian municipality of Dittenheim, north of Munich, DT began using energy from solar panels more than a year ago. The site currently has 36 square feet of solar modules and Ericsson and DT has added a wind turbine, capable of providing up to five kilowatts of additional power, as a second renewable energy power source.
“Ensuring an integrated management of clean, efficient and reliable power sources and usage is key for sustainable mobile site operations,” said Leif Heitzer, SVP Technology Guidance and Economics at Deutsche Telekom. “Together with innovative partners we explore in trials how we can apply intelligent solutions and capabilities to optimize energy consumption and control at mobile sites.”
Ericsson Power System enables the simultaneous integration of the two renewable energy sources, which allows the site to operate on a stand-alone basis without the electrical power grid if weather permits. The Ericsson Power System provides the necessary voltage conversion and maximum power point tracking. The joint control of the two power sources and the batteries are integrated into the same management system that controls the RAN, which allows for the integration into existing sites in the future.
The next project phase will develop additional functions for the efficient use of generated energy and storage capacities. In the near future, the integration of additional energy sources such as fuel cells will replace the need for diesel generators, which are currently kept in reserve for emergencies.
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