Dimensioning the renewable energy system of a Green Cellular Base Station Site

The demand for mobile communication services has experienced unprecedented growth in recent decades, driven by factors such as the affordability of user devices, the expansion of mobile applications, the proliferation of social media, and advancements in technologies like the Internet of Things (IoT), cloud and fog computing, and Artificial Intelligence (AI). This surge has necessitated extensive upgrades to mobile network infrastructure, particularly with the deployment of next-generation networks such as 4G and 5G. However, these expansions have significantly increased energy consumption, with base stations being the primary contributors to overall network power usage, leading to substantial financial and environmental implications.
One viable strategy to mitigate the carbon footprint and operational expenses of mobile networks is the incorporation of renewable energy sources, particularly solar power, to support base station operations. This study presents a systematic approach to designing and evaluating solar energy generation and storage solutions for cellular base stations. Leveraging real-world data from a base station site in Banda, located in the North Region of Cameroon, we develop an analytical framework to assess system performance. A key focus is on estimating the probability of service outage, which arises when stored energy is exhausted, and photovoltaic (PV) generation is insufficient to meet demand. The insights gained from this analysis contribute to optimizing the sizing and management of renewable energy systems, enhancing the sustainability and resilience of mobile network operations.