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Wind, Solar & Biofuels to Power Remote Cell Towers

Posted by ScuttleMonkey on from the go-juice dept.

tcd004 writes "How do you set up a cell network when there's no power grid? Namibia, India and Nigeria are building towers using localized power sources to provide critical cell phone access to the most remote parts of their countries. Wind/solar hybrids, and biofuel power plants will power the radio towers, peripheral communications, and even the protective fencing around the installations."

2 of 119 comments (clear)

  1. Re:Considering that electricity transmission losse by drinkypoo · · Score: 2, Informative

    Indeed. I've often wondered how many resources are used just to push usable energy around, and if there is in fact a benefit to having massively distributed power generation rather than massive power plants.

    A pity you didn't just Look it up. Then you'd have known it was around 7% in the US and UK. Which yes, is fucking huge. In 2003 the total consumption of electricity in the US was 3,656 billion kilowatt-hours. you do the math...

    --
    "You're right," Fisheye says. "I should have set it on 'whip' or 'chop.'"
  2. Re:Considering that electricity transmission losse by mdsolar · · Score: 2, Informative

    Losses are about 7% on the grid http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Electric_power_transm ission#Losses. While this is significant it is not huge. The real problem is stringing out lines to remote locations which is expensive.
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    Destress the grid: http://mdsolar.blogspot.com/2007/01/slashdot-users -selling-solar.html