A Solar Energy Solution for Sustainable Third Generation Mobile Networks

Mohammed H. Alsharif
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Mohammed H. Alsharif: Department of Electrical Engineering, College of Electronics and Information Engineering, Sejong University, 209 Neungdong-ro, Gwangjin-gu, Seoul 05006, Korea

Energies, 2017, vol. 10, issue 4, 1-17

Abstract: The energy consumption of cellular networks has become increasingly important to cellular network operators, due to the significant economic and ecological influence of these networks in the future. The development of alternative energy technologies has resulted in the consideration of a solar powered base station (BS) as a long-term solution for the mobile cellular network industry, to reduce the operational expenditures and CO 2 footprints of cellular networks. This study addresses the deployment and operational issues of a solar powered universal mobile telecommunications system (UMTS; a third generation mobile cellular system) BS (i.e., Node B) that is currently deployed (i.e., UMTS Node B 2/2/2 and UMTS Node B 4/4/4). In addition, this study employs a hybrid optimization model for an electric renewable software simulator developed by the American National Renewable Energy Laboratory. Four key aspects are discussed in this study: optimal solar system architecture, energy production, the cash flow of the solar powered UMTS Node B project, and the economic feasibility of a solar powered system compared with traditional sources. Simulation results show that the proposed solution ensures 100% energy autonomy and long-term energy balance for the UMTS Node B, with cost effectiveness.

Keywords: energy consumption; green mobile networks; energy harvesting; power management; smart grid; solar energy; sustainable wireless networks (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: Q Q0 Q4 Q40 Q41 Q42 Q43 Q47 Q48 Q49 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2017
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (10)

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