Optimization of hybrid renewable energy power system for urban LTE base station deployment in Malaysia

Energy efficiency in cellular networks is a growing concern for cellular operators not only to maintain profitability, but also to reduce overall environmental effect. Base stations consume the most energy. The specific needs in power supply for base stations such as cost effectiveness, efficiency, sustainability and reliability can be met with the technological advances in renewable energy. This study, explores the possibility to power base stations in cellular networks through a combination of a renewable power sources and the electrical grid in urban areas. The optimization analysis of the proposed hybrid power system has been performed through Hybrid Optimization Model for Electric Renewables (HOMER) optimization software. Solar radiation data obtained from the Malaysian meteorological department (MMD) has been used in the simulation process, where the average daily solar radiation during 2013, was recorded at 5.1 kW/m²/day, and the average wind speed was 3.8 m/s. The results showed that can be saving up to 48% of the annual operational expenditure (OPEX) by a hybrid power system; where, the maximum savings is in February and the minimum savings is in August.