14 DAY TRIAL // As more and more people are buying mobile phones and connect to mobile communications networks, the problem of providing the necessary electricity to power these expanding networks becomes more pressing. Most developing countries, which are seeing an unprecedented growth in wireless subscribers will need to turn their attention to these alternative ways of providing energy, as many of their base stations are placed in remote areas that have limited or no access to grid power.
According to Pike Research’s analysis, the renewable energy from solar panels and small wind turbines offers a viable solution to diesel generators in these remote off-grid sites. The market research company forecasts that renewable energy will power around 4.5% of the world’s mobile base stations by 2014, up from just 0.11% in 2010. Furthermore, in developing countries, this percentage will be even higher, as it forecasts that 8% of base stations in those regions will utilize renewable power by 2014.
“Energy is one of the top expense items for mobile network operators,” says managing director Clint Wheelock. “As solar and wind equipment become more cost-effective in the next few years, renewable energy will be an increasingly attractive option for base station power, in combination with batteries and fuel cells.” Wheelock adds that the economics of renewable energy are already favorable in remote off-grid areas where the fully-loaded cost of delivering diesel to generators is high.
Pike Research's report shows that thanks to the rapid technology development and to a series of initiatives by equipment vendors and operators, the mobile network infrastructure is becoming more energy-efficient. The firm believes lower base station power requirements will make it even easier to integrate renewable energy into mobile networks. As for the “greenies,” they will be happy to find that in the process, the communication industry will be presented with an important opportunity to reduce carbon emissions associated with network operations. The full Pike Research report is available here.