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 Mobiles,
GSM, Energy, Global: Is there a role for alternative energy sources in the
mobile industry? Yes is the answer, according to Motorola, which recently
announced that it had successfully completed a trial to demonstrate the
feasibility of alternative power systems that can support remote GSM base
stations.
And yes according to ZTE, which announced new generation
“green” base stations that reduce power consumption. Or indeed the GSM
Association, which cites biofuel-powered base stations among the initiatives
being tried in the projects that make up the GSMA's Development Fund.
 So, whatever next? That, in a nutshell, is the question
Informa asked Euan Blauvelt, Research Director of ABS Energy Research which is,
not surprisingly, a provider of energy market research. Like Motorola, we
decided to concentrate on the future role of those established favourites, wind
and solar power. A good choice, apparently. “On the face of it,” Blauvelt says,
“both wind and solar power are ideal power sources in remote locations where
grid power is too costly.”
There are a number of other possibilities for remote power
supply, however. Small diesel generators are the traditional solution but that
requires transporting fuel a long way, sometimes over difficult terrain.
Another popular solution is small hydropower (SH), consisting of mini or micro
hydro units. These are widespread in Germany,
while China is the world leader in SH technology, with well over 50,000 SH
units.
However, sun and wind are natural resources and always
there. Well, almost. “The problem with a single renewable source is
intermittency,” says Blauvelt. “If a wind turbine is installed and the wind
does not blow, there is no power - similarly with the sun and solar power.”
There are other issues too. Wind is now a mainstream
generating technology but is highly controversial. Intermittency, a mismatch
between periods of the highest wind force and peak electricity demand and the
need for fossil fuel back-up to maintain grid security, have all undermined it.
“Nevertheless, these problems will be overcome and it will continue to
develop,” says Blauvelt. Similar caveats apply to solar power.
One solution, he says, is a hybrid. Many combinations are
possible but they often consist of three or even four small units: a small wind
turbine, a small solar photovoltaic panel, a small generator and perhaps a
small hydro plant. The Chinese have again pioneered this because they have many
extremely remote sites. Is it viable? “Cost can be a problem with hybrids for household
use, but for a remote telecoms base the investment should be available,”
Blauvelt suggests.
Intermittency issues apart, the efficiency of both wind and
solar power has improved enormously in the last 15 years, he says: “Both were
extremely expensive at the start but they each conformed to the standard
industrial learning curve, with a progress ratio of 80%. That is, costs came
down 20% with each doubling of production.” Both are still expensive and
usually subsidised but will continue to become cheaper.
Of course, one might add, if they had the profile of, say,
mobile communications, investment would have flooded in. “The initial backing
for alternative energy was slow,” admits Blauvelt “but it has grown fast in the
last five years.”
“It started as a project for enthusiasts or “tree-huggers”
and was pioneered by small companies,” he says. Things, however, have changed
radically in recent years. “Big industry has moved in: RWE, BP, Shell, GE and
the Japanese giants have all been buying small renewables companies and are investing heavily now.
Industry and the energy companies are backing alternative energy sources with
large investment. BP, for example, says its business will be 50% renewable by
the middle of the century. The leading Japanese producers of solar - Kyocera,
Sharp, Sanyo and such companies - have all made strong commitments to it.”
Encouraging news. Still, the solar-powered handset is
probably some way off, isn't it? Perhaps not. “There has been and is a lot of
research and product development going on to develop fuel cells for small
applications,” says Blauvelt. “Small solar panels are already widely used in
pocket calculators; mobiles and PCs are the next application.”
Over to you, Motorola...
more info:
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Date: 24 – 28 November 2008