Motorola today announced that it has successfully completed a trial to demonstrate the feasibility of alternative power systems can support remote GSM Base Stations (BTS). The trial concluded that a combination of solar cells and wind turbines can generate 1,200 watts in a continual cycle; enough to drive a mid-sized BTS and support a microwave backhaul installation.

Powering BTS sites in both developed and emerging markets is a challenge for operators because of the high cost or difficulty of provisioning mains electrical power. Motorola’s green-powered BTS, part of the company’s Reach GSM portfolio, can replace or reduce the load on mains power and can also remove the need for power generators that require continual re-fueling and security.

“In areas such as central Africa, operators can spend as much as two-thirds of their operating costs on diesel power,” comments Mohammad Akhtar, vice president, global product management GSM/UMTS, Motorola Sales and Services, Inc. “Using eco-powered BTS can help operators to lower operating costs. This reduction in operating expenditure (OPEX) can be critical for operators in emerging markets when building networks that reach customers in remote locations.”

In collaboration with Bristol, Bath and Surrey Universities, Motorola successfully ran the year-long test at its GSM facility in Swindon, UK. During the trials, Motorola used a combination of solar and wind power to run a GSM base station and charge batteries that kick in when the solar or wind power is insufficient.