Are green cellular base stations sustainable?

This study presents an overview of sustainable and green cellular base stations (BSs), which account for most of the energy consumed in cellular networks. We review the architecture of the BS and the power consumption model, and then summarize the trends in green cellular network research over the past decade.

What is a green base station?

The Green Base Station which is introduced is equipped with the regenerative energy sources wind power and photo-voltaic energy to reduce the power consumption taken out of the public grid to a minimum, whenever sunlight or wind is present.

Does Ericsson have a 'green' base station design?

But the large equipment vendors too have got in on the act. Ericsson made a point of its green credentials at the recent Mobile World Congress, and launched a "green" base station design back in 2007. Its commitment extends from materials used in base station build, to the design and efficiency of the base stations themselves.

What should a base station do in a wireless communications network?

In a wireless communications network, the base station should maintain high-quality coverage. It should also have the potential for upgrade or evolution. As network traffic increases, power consumption increases proportionally to the number of base stations. However, reducing the number of base stations may degrade network quality.

How does a green base station reduce the use of lead acid batteries?

Only a small backup battery is used during the start-up time of the fuel cell. Thus, the amount of lead is reduced to a minimum in the Green Base Station. Depending on the system configuration, it is even possible to completely avoid the usage of lead acid batteries.

Are cellular network operators moving towards green cellular BS?

Figure 10 reveals that many cellular network operators in the world have still not shifted toward green cellular BS. Most of these operators are located in developing countries with limited electricity supply and unreliable electric grids. The financial issues in these countries must be investigated further. 4.5.