Photovoltaic Systems as Energy Source for Telecom Equipment

The introduction of new decentralized telecom equipment using digital techniques such as concentrators, PCM-equipment, etc;, with an insignificant power consumption is taking place. Together with the prospects of a pronounced fall in prices of solar cells within this decade this has caused Jutland Telephone to consider the possibility of using solar cell/battery systems in the primary energy supply for some of this new telecom equipment. Two stand-alone photovoltaic pilot plants were established and put into operation in September 1980 and they are planned to operate for a test period of at least two years, at the Jutland Telephone Co. head office. This paper gives an impression of the insolation conditions in Denmark and describes briefly the theoretical systems analysis which has formed the basis of the dimensioning of the two pilot plants. Furthermore it describes the principal components of the pilot plants and the goals which the project group has in mind.