Energy Management Tactics for Telecom Networks to Increase Sustainability

It’s widely known that energy use is responsible for the vast majority of telecommunications network operating costs, and that 5G will drive an unprecedented rise in data traffic, which in turn will increase power consumption across the network. The urgency in urban centres and regions where 5G is a priority is palpable, but 5G is just one item on a growing list of reasons that today’s telcos are increasingly focused on energy usage and carbon responsibility.

Indeed, telcos that have been caught in a seemingly endless loop of network upgrades are turning their attention to the costs and carbon footprint associated with those advancements. The good news is that there are immediate steps operators can take to reduce the energy their networks consume, source energy wisely, and ensure more responsible operation.

The even better news is that there’s a solid foundation on which to work - telcos have already made strides in tackling their energy usage. The industry has been deploying hybrid energy systems for decades and was an early adopter of solar energy, albeit in limited, specific applications.

However, whilst the industry should certainly be commended for these efforts, it’s an evolution and there is an increasing impetus to get sustainability ‘right’. So, what near and longer term strategies can telcos deploy to help boost energy efficiency and continue on their journey achieving even more sustainability?

High efficiency rectifiers

There are a number of immediate steps which individual operators can take to support the transition to a more sustainable, greener, future. The most obvious and already widely adopted strategy is simply transitioning to high-efficiency rectifiers in DC power systems that are present at every access site. Replacing legacy DC power systems with newer, high-efficiency models can reduce annual costs by over $7,000 for every 1000A at $0.3/kwhr.1

Every provisioning decision at every 5G site retrofit or new deployment should be made with energy efficiency top of mind. This is happening more and more already and should be a baseline expectation of operators everywhere. In addition, modern equipment frequently includes energy-saving modes and features that too often are ignored. Today’s DC power systems are more intelligent and capable of more advanced energy management than legacy systems, but frequently operators choose to disregard those capabilities in favour of static operation.

Planning makes perfect – matching your strategies to access sites.

When you consider geographies, climate, grid reliability, water availability, government regulations and countless other factors around the globe, it becomes clear that no single strategy is appropriate for every access site.

For example, there are opportunities – and an increasing compelling case – in countries with expensive utility costs to introduce solar power as a supplement to the grid. A solution for costs savings alone would be more difficult in areas such as Louisiana where electricity is nine cents per kilowatt-hour (kWh); but solar power is a clear gain in places like Denmark and Germany, where prices routinely exceed 30 cents per kWh. And, of course, those prices can and will continue to fluctuate.

So it’s clear that energy and carbon management strategies must be linked to planning and real estate, and operators must tailor their approach to the conditions across their networks. Another good example of this is where hybrid energy systems are used to supplement unreliable or overtaxed grids. This is more commonplace in much of Africa, South America, and parts of Asia than in the US where grid service is usually reliable and affordable.

It is of course, an overstatement to say that every site is unique – but it’s important to ensure the nuances of the geography aren’t ignored and build strategies are designed accordingly.

Intelligent Controls

Today, thanks to the latest innovations in technology development, comprehensive real-time monitoring of AC and DC power network infrastructure is possible.

Intelligent controllers are available with advanced load management functionalities that enable telcos to visualise potential hotspots, power performance, and distribution inefficiencies in order to optimise the DC power supply, maximise use of cooling and avoid overload.

By proactively managing the load, operators can identify the location and power profile of every rack at a given site. This ability to map the site’s power distribution and thermal output enables operators to move the load from one rack to another to improve airflow and optimise

thermal management. With effective load management tools, high availability can be achieved whilst improving energy efficiencies and saving costs.

Long-term strategy

Today, operators can deploy a number of strategies to reduce energy consumption and costs, but these steps alone will not solve the problem. To increase sustainability, operators must consider more creative, ambitious approaches to managing their power usage which requires better planning and awareness of implications. When deploying solar, for example, real estate needs change - often requiring a larger footprint, an unobstructed view of the sun, and more local and regional policies and regulations to consider. In the past, operators could simply pursue the least expensive real estate they could find (cost was one issue, radio coverage was the other). As part of a larger energy management strategy, that is no longer the case.

Operators must also look to the long term to consider more creative, ambitious approaches to managing their energy usage. Indeed, telcos are engaging with the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals (SGDs), through telco sustainability initiatives and company strategy. The 17 United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals (SGDs) were set up in 2015 by the United Nations General Assembly and agreed upon by all 193 Member States. They are intended to be realised by the year 2030 and provide a “blueprint to achieve a better and more sustainable future for all”.

Other innovations to look at closely include new and emerging battery technologies like sodium-ion that may present additional opportunities for off-grid operation and energy management. And, as on- and off-grid power management becomes more sophisticated, we could see networks evolving into microgrids that generate and share their own power across the network and with the utility. High-voltage DC power has also shown promise in reducing power conversions and improving energy efficiency in some limited applications and may be part of future solutions.

Any discussion of potential long-term energy management strategy changes should include activities that may lack traction today but could present opportunities as different technologies mature.