Optimum hybrid photovoltaic-based solution for remote telecommunication stations

J.K. Kaldellis

Renewable Energy, 2010, vol. 35, issue 10, 2307-2315

Abstract: The vast growth of the mobile telecommunication (T/C) sector during the recent years has led to the extension of the respective networks even to the most remote areas. Many of these areas, however, often lack electricity grid supply and as a result installation of energy autonomous T/C stations, usually based on diesel-oil electricity generation, is essential. On the other hand, technological developments and considerable procurement cost reduction of photovoltaics (PVs) encourage also the use of PV stand-alone configurations, as an alternative energy solution for the operation of these remote T/C stations. Instead of using PV-battery configurations alone, contribution of a diesel engine in terms of moderate fuel consumption may downsize the system and improve its economic performance. In this context, an optimum sizing methodology currently developed is used to determine the dimensions of such an autonomous hybrid system, based on the criterion of minimum initial cost. The developed methodology is accordingly applied to a representative Greek area of high solar potential under different scenarios of fuel consumption and panels’ tilt angle. From the results obtained, the proposed hybrid power station appears to be one of the most attractive energy solutions for the support of remote T/C stations, providing increased levels of reliability and presenting low maintenance needs.

Keywords: Telecommunication station; Photovoltaics; Lead-acid battery; Diesel engine; Hybrid system; Greece (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2010
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (14)

Downloads: (external link)
http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0960148110001461
Full text for ScienceDirect subscribers only

Related works:
This item may be available elsewhere in EconPapers: Search for items with the same title.

Export reference: BibTeX RIS (EndNote, ProCite, RefMan) HTML/Text

Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:eee:renene:v:35:y:2010:i:10:p:2307-2315

DOI: 10.1016/j.renene.2010.03.029

Access Statistics for this article

Renewable Energy is currently edited by Soteris A. Kalogirou and Paul Christodoulides

More articles in Renewable Energy from Elsevier
Bibliographic data for series maintained by Catherine Liu ().