A New Type of Cell Tower Power Is In the Wind

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UPDATE The fusion of wind turbines has been tested before, as reported in Inside Towers, but has yet to be adopted on a large scale. MTN South Africa is trying out a new design in Worcester in the Western Cape region of South Africa. The notoriously windy area makes it a good testing ground for the company’s trial “windmills.” 

MyBroadband reports that measuring efficiency at various heights is also providing MTN South Africa with additional useful information. CEO Charles Molapisi said that his company’s long range plan includes delivering a wealth of alternative energy projects that also provide network stability to its customers. 

MTN stated that it expects to complete its wind turbine project next autumn. The project is not expected to interfere with the telecommunications features of the cell tower. The host towers are excellent candidates for the wind turbine units, says MTN, since no extra structures or guy wires are needed to install, or uninstall, the equipment.

In addition to providing the vertical real estate to test the windmills, MTN has said it sees the potential of the turbines to work with the cell towers to both address power needs and mitigate rolling blackouts. “Hybrid renewable energy systems provide green energy to power assets sustainably, reducing reliance on unstable grids and the carbon-emitting fuels that are driving global warming,” noted MTN. “By substituting fossil fuel-fed run time with alternative energy, a further benefit is that there will be a reduction in the amount of diesel burnt per site by reducing generator run hours.”

MTN’s efforts to bolster its Project Zero initiative are expected to benefit from working with renewable energy options like wind power. Molapisi added that solar powered resources are also part of the company’s future. 

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