Summer Is Here and It’s Time To Work On Those Off-Grid Telecommunications Sites

July 7, 2023 | By Chris Sayles

Let’s go boonie-whomp’n! Load up that trailer queen OHV, head out to the sticks and look for the tallest mountain to climb! Don’t forget to pack what you need for the trip… There are not any hardware stores or minimarts around. Sounds like a blast right!? That’s right we are hauling a tower and heavy equipment up that mountain and building a telecommunications site just south of Nowheresville! Nothing says fun like engineering, building, and commissioning a new site at an off-grid location. Wait a minute, how are we going to power this remote site without commercial power? Stick around and let’s find out.

Many factors can influence what type of power solution you install at an off-grid telecommunications site. Just like packing the right tool for the job, selecting the correct off grid power solution can mean the difference between a positive experience or negative experience… Hi-Hi! The common theme of any off-grid site is that the power needs to keep flowing regardless of location, environmental factors, or weather conditions.

So how does one build a reliable off-grid power system? The first step is to identify your load profile such as wattage, and supply voltage requirements. Once the power demand is identified the system autonomy needs to be looked at heavily. System autonomy is the amount of time the system will stay online without any power generation input. Power generation type, battery capacity, weather, budget, usable land area, and other factors can greatly affect autonomy. The load profile and desired autonomy are extremely important factors in designing an off-grid power system.

It is commonly assumed that photovoltaic solar arrays are the first and sometimes only option when they think of an off-grid power solution. However, there are many other power generation methods available that can be leveraged such as: motor generators, thermoelectric generators, fuel cells, wind power, geothermal, and more! In depth planning and calculations are needed to ensure you have the right solution for your application.

Once the power is generated where will it be stored? Batteries are the most common method of storing the valuable power your system will generate. There are an immense variety of options when it comes to battery manufactures, models, chemistry, and sizes. All batteries are not created equal and many of the same factors you consider when designing the power system and generation type apply to the batteries as well. A battery system that works well in one application may not be the right fit for another location. Without proper engineering and familiarity with battery chemistry an improperly designed battery system can under preform and even pose health and safety risks. Much care should be taken when designing your off-grid battery system by using a qualified professional.

With decades of experience designing power systems for rural and off-grid locations, Infiniti Wireless is up to the task of designing your next system. In addition to off-grid power solutions we can also offer green field prime power, backup power solution for remote sites, right sizing underperforming power systems, and grid-tie to existing power systems for cost savings. We offer turnkey power system solutions to get your project done right the first time. Our engineering team leverages the latest power generation solution the industry has to offer. Typically, one power generation type alone is not adequate for fully sustainable off-grid power on remote sites. To this end we use our expertise to design hybrid systems which combine different generating methods for maximum up time. Need drawings and site plans to submit building permits or intracompany purposes, no problem! We can also provide maintenance recommendations and training to ensure your system stays online for years to come. Our designers use a combination of cutting-edge modeling software, field surveys, and the copious amount of experience we have gained in the field to get your project done right the first time! Please contact us today to learn how we can assist with your next project.