Alternative Power Generation Technologies: Use of Distributed Power for Telecommunications Facilities and Operations

As renewable energy technologies (RET) continue to decline in price, they become an increasingly attractive option to power telecommunication facilities. By the dependence on the electric grid for power, such facilities face consequences of reduced reliability including risks of extended power failures, high environmental costs, and high capital costs for remote locations. Of the distributed power generation technologies, solar photovoltaics and wind turbines are the most mature technologies which could be used. Additional prospects exist for using fuel cells in the future and biofuels in developing countries. In developing countries, RET-powered telephone infrastructure have grown in acceptance and presents the possibility for two-way technology transfer between companies who have gained experience with these projects