Using solar energy is a reliable method of providing electrical power to telecommunication systems
in remote places that are beyond the main electricity grid, for instance mountaintops and vast
swamps, where power is unavailable or where it is impractical to install new power lines to remote
locations. Solar energy is able to power many telecom systems including television and radio
repeater sites, microwave repeaters, and RTU applications.
In order to calculate the solar array size for the location of the radio site, you can find the solar
insolation for your location at http://eosweb.larc.nasa.gov. To determine the size a repeater or RTU
site you first need to establish how much power the radio uses in both stand-by and transmit mode
and the duty cycle, or the time the radio is operating during a 24-hour cycle. Then you need to
determine the amount of solar radiation that is available at your radio site. In order to calculate the
size of the battery bank, you need to decide how long the radio needs to operate during extended
periods of overcast skies. All of this information will help to determine what size your system will
need to be.
24×7 Telecom tower operation is a vital need of operators but unfortunately in our country not all the
states supply 24 hour power resulting in discontinuous service. The growing need to keep live
connectivity with people at remote places is a real challenge that also has negative social impact if
they are cut off.
Nirmitee Solar offers a well developed standalone and also a hybrid solution which caters to
this complex issue with the latest technology extending selectivity for Solar, Battery and Grid
combinations to ensure zero breakdown in shared BTS sites.
Payback period may be 6-7 years taking into account the key factors like Solar plant cost interest on
Solar investment, daily diesel cost, rising diesel prices, diesel management expenses, investment
and maintenance cost of diesel generators, applicable depreciation benefits.
