Huawei Seeks Hybrid Solar Solutions for Telcos’ Energy Challenges

Mr. Frank Li, Managing Director Huawei Technologies Nigeria, while speaking at the ongoing AfricaCom 2017 conference in Cape Town, South Africa, has said the solution to the serious electricity supply challenges facing mobile operators looking to expand their network coverage across Africa, lies in the adoption of hybrid solar power, Leadership reports.

Mr. Li said Huawei’s Solar Hybrid Power Solution which is based on industry-leading SolarMax technology, converts the abundant energy from the sun into DC output to supply stable electrical power for site equipment. He also said the solution uses intelligent management features by analyzing data from the solar panels, battery and generator set, adding that an algorithm is used to modify battery charging times and generator running time to maximise the benefits derived from solar radiation. Intelligent lithium batteries, called BoostLi, also help operators cut down on site visits and reduce theft by “locking” once they are disconnected from their central monitor.

Mr. Li gave examples stating that Safaricom, one of East Africa’s major mobile network operators, was faced with high battery theft rates and fuel bills exceeding US$10,000 per site before turning to Huawei’s hybrid solar power solution. Since then battery theft has dropped to zero, while fuel consumption has been cut by 90 per cent. “The solution also helped MTN reduce battery theft to zero and improve network reliability slightly. Tower operator ANTOSC (Angola Tower Sharing Company), which has deployed the hybrid solution in off-grid areas, has been able to save over $20,000 in fuel costs,” he added.

Source: Energy Mix Report