FCPOWEREDRBS

Demonstration Project for Power Supply to Telecom Stations through FC technology

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 Obiettivo del progetto (Objective)

'FC and H2 may represent an enabling technology for a wider diffusion of Radio Base Station “energized” by renewable energy sources. While the expected higher energy efficiency already has an attractive potential for these applications, the energy storage potential of H2 (either locally produced or stored in bottles) is even more interesting as it could extend significantly the number of hours of unattended operation which very much determines the overall energy cost for these installation. This is an instrumental feature of H2 and FC which could favour the further diffusion of mobile applications in remote sites. To clearly demonstrate this potential a minimum of 17 sites of really operating off-grid Radio Base Stations will be equipped with an integrated power generation system using Fuel Cell technology and H2 and tested for a significant period. This very large demonstration program will be used to assess the readiness of available technological solution to make the potential viable and demonstrate the industrial readiness of the fuel cell technology in this early market. These units will demonstrate a level of technical performance (start-up time, reliability, durability, number of cycles) that qualifies them for market entry, thereby accelerating the commercialization of this technology in Europe and elsewhere. The RBSPoweredFCH2 Project consortium integrates different EU FC and H2 related technology maker with a market leader for Telecom Systems and with R&D institution. This peculiar opportunity is also fundamental to pursue a bottom-up approach which allows to modify the energy requirements and load profile of the energy utilization to fit in an optimum way the performances expected for the Fuel Cell system. The demonstration project will involve the benchmarking of different technical configurations for fuel cells integrated with other local Renewable Energy sources (mainly PV but also wind). One of the key factor for this off-grid application market'

Introduzione (Teaser)

Fuel cells may represent a real alternative to standard power sources such as batteries and diesel generators for off-grid telecom applications. An EU-funded project aims to prove their advantages to potential customers in different industrial sectors.

Descrizione progetto (Article)

Hydrogen and fuel cell technologies may represent a key enabling technology for radio base stations (RBSs) powered by renewable energies to see real market traction. The EU-funded project 'Demonstration project for power supply to telecom stations through FC technology' (http://fcpoweredrbs.eu/ (FCPOWEREDRBS)) is clearly demonstrating this potential. With 15 RBS installations live in Italy and 2 in Europe research centres, FCPOWEREDRBS is conducting field trials to allow a complete technology assessment for this promising, yet early market.

These units should demonstrate such performance in terms of start-up time, reliability, durability and number of cycles that should qualify them for quick market entry throughout the world.

Diesel generators are being displaced by new systems combining renewable energy and proton exchange membrane fuel cells fuelled with pure hydrogen. With such alternative fuelling solutions, FCPOWEREDRBS is not only enhancing off-grid RBS performance but also decreasing cost of ownership.

Several simulation activities helped define system specifications. Focus was placed on evaluating the impact of the battery and the photovoltaic pack sizes as well as of the variable weather on the system output. A laboratory for benchmarking of fuel cell-powered RBSs was set up, where also the first fuel cell system was tested. Furthermore, researchers verified the impact of sudden radiation variations on each sub-system.

FCPOWEREDRBS has developed a benchmark protocol for the fuel cell technology that should be added to the available benchmark protocols, providing a point of reference for final users.

The FCPOWEREDRBS project's proposed fuel cell solution reduces RBS carbon footprint and offers significant cost savings.