DoCoMo Tests Solar Base Stations
DoCoMo is conducting field trials for solar-powered base stations, plans to deploy 10 locations summer 2013: http://bit.ly/16r99Cb
DoCoMo announced today that from April, it will begin field testing three conventional mobile-network base stations that have been installed with solar panels, high-capacity rechargeable batteries and green power controllers. The company is developing disaster-proof, environmentally friendly base stations following the Great East Japan Earthquake, tested the equipment at its R&D Center from March 2012 to February 2013. The equipment will now be used to establish 10 green base stations in the Kanto-Koshinetsu region of Japan by late summer, including the first three in Tokyo, Kanagawa and Yamanashi prefectures.
The solar panels to be used in the field test generate up to 4.19 kW, whereas the maximum power consumption of a base station is 2.0 kW. Remotely controlled green power controllers will manage power used by the base stations, including utility-provided electricity, solar panel-generated electricity, and high-capacity, rechargeable batteries that discharge their energy as required. To cut down on electricity costs, the batteries can be charged with electricity purchased at nighttime, when costs are relatively low.