The first thousand optimized solar BTS stations of Orange group

Abstract

In Intelec 2006, Orange Labs published a paper about its long experience in powering remote site stations and recent R&D study to optimize the dimensioning [1] The PV sizing models were especially useful for Orange to decide to launch a vast project to intensify the roll-out of the mobile network essentially in Africa, with much less Diesel Generators allowing big reduction of Capex, Opex, fossil fuel use and GHG emission. This paper gives a first overview of the good results obtained on the First thousand of optimized pure and hybrid photovoltaic stations. It explains how the dimensioning and technico-economic modeling have been confirmed as well as the possibility to operate without cooling system. The improvement of availability of solar energy and enhancement of Quality of Service has been confirmed on the field, versus Diesel Generators, while still having a very short return of investment, This is in line with GSMA analysis [2] predicting increasing use of renewable energy replacing the legacy fossil generator because some governments have already announced that the oil peak is now passed inducing permanent increase of fossil fuel cost. This is also mandatory to reduce the GHG emission. The PV optimization should also induce more applications of the renewable energy solution. It allows swap of existing mobile sites running on Diesel generator, extension to North AEMA and EME regions and possible application beyond mobile networks, for fixed network and datacenters. It can include energy savings also for on-grid sites where the kWh cost and the power cuts are rapidly increasing. Some possible improvements are also presented and discussed: station integration in solar shelter, thermal optimization of lead-acid batteries and solar nickel cadmium or lithium batteries trials, and solar /wind hybrid solution. Medium or long terms R&D investigations are shortly presented on other technologies of batteries and high reliability backup generator such as external heat machines of Stirling family using bio-fuel and coupled with solar heat and storage.