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Telecom services play a vital role in the socio-economic development of a country. The number of people using these services is growing rapidly with further enhance growth expected in future. Consequently, the number of telecom towers that are critical for providing such services has also increased correspondingly. Such an increase in the number of telecom towers in a country implies a corresponding increase in the electricity demand of the country. Moreover, in view of growing concerns about climate change, it is necessary that the decarbonization of telecom towers is prioritized so as to minimize their carbon footprint. In view of the above, the primary objective of this paper is to provide a comprehensive analysis of various renewable energy-based systems and the advantages they offer for powering telecom towers, based on a review of the existing literature and field installations. Telecom towers are powered by hybrid energy systems that incorporate renewable energy technologies such as solar photovoltaic panels, wind turbines, fuel cells, and microturbines. Utilizing these systems helps to reduce the consumption of fossil fuels and consequently mitigates the anthropogenic carbon emissions. Moreover, information related to growth of the telecom industry, telecom tower configurations and power supply needs, conventional power supply options, and hybrid system combinations and their benefits. Several field installations of renewable energy-based hybrid systems have also been summarized. This review can help to evaluate appropriate low-carbon technologies and also to develop policy instruments to promote renewable energy-based telecom tower power systems. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

An attempt has been made to evaluate the financial feasibility of hybrid power supply option during real-time grid power unavailability (continuous and intermittent) conditions and determine the optimal hybrid power supply configurations for outdoor telecom towers in India. As grid power availability is highly dependent on locations, a review of real-time hourly grid power supply availability for telecom towers at 36 locations in different parts of India has also been presented. Ten different locations across different climatic zones were analyzed, and it was found that duration and continuity (continuous and intermittent) of power outages considerably affect the LCOE of different configurations. So it is imperative that these factors be taken into account when determining the optimal hybrid power system. Solar PV-based hybrid power supply systems were found to have lower LCOE for all power outage conditions both in continuous as well as intermittent with their values in the range of Indian rupees (INR) 6.76–INR 26.32 (US $0.095–US $0.371) per kWh for the optimal cases (1 US$ = INR 76.28 (As on April 27, 2020)). While solar PV with battery is found to be the least cost hybrid power supply options for the telecom towers located in areas with continuous grid power unavailability up to 4 h, a diesel generator also needs to be included for larger hours of continuous grid unavailability. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: Need for renewable energy education and training at all levels is globally recognized. During the last three decades a large number of countries across the globe have initiated academic programmes on renewable energy technologies and related aspects. A review of published literature on renewable energy education initiatives across the globe, challenges faced, and potential approaches towards efficient and effective solutions are presented in the paper. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: India has a very large potential for harnessing renewable energy sources. However, there is a large gap between the estimated potential and the cumulative achievements made so far. A variety of reasons are attributed to the current low levels of dissemination of renewable energy technologies in India as against their respective estimated potentials. Several of these attributes could, one way or the other, be related to the current status of development of the technology, its appropriateness and dissemination strategies adopted for their diffusion and deployment. Results of an attempt to assess the current status of some renewable energy technologies in India are briefly presented in this paper. The main findings of a structured questionnaire based survey undertaken for eliciting views of different categories of stakeholders on various issues affecting dissemination of renewable energy technologies in India are presented in this paper. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

of a HOMER based techno-economic assessment of an electricity supply option based on a hybrid system comprising of a PV component, a diesel generator (DG) and electricity grid have been presented in this paper. The study includes analysis of electricity unavailability data for 132 locations in India spread over state capitals, district headquarters, municipal areas and villages. The values of Net Present Cost (NPC) and Cost of Electricity (CoE) have been estimated for 25 selected locations in the country and a comparison with corresponding values for conventional alternative (grid+DG) has also been presented. The study internalizes all relevant location specific parameters. The values of NPC and CoE are lower in the range of 9.5%–36.6% and 16%–33.6% respectively for the proposed system (grid+PV+DG) as compared to conventional system at all 25 locations considered. The inclusion of PV component results in reduced purchase of grid electricity and much lower hours of operation of DG. • Analyzed real-time hourly grid power supply outage status for outdoor telecom towers at 132 locations • Designed optimal hybrid systems for powering BTS in telecom towers at 25 selected locations in India, • Presented a detailed techno-economic comparison of solar PV based hybrid system for powering BTS • The values of NPC and CoE are lower in the range of 9.5%–36.6% and 16%–102.4% respectively for the hybrid system • The PV component results in reduced purchase of grid electricity, DG operation, electricity fed to grid, and CO 2 emissions [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]