Solar power systems for telecommunications in remote Arctic areas

Abstract

Telecommunications is one of the fields that has obtained a great benefit from the introduction of solar power systems. With the reduced power consumption of modern telecommunications equipment, solar electricity has become an economically and technically attractive alternative to conventional energy sources. Telecommunications lines often pass through remote, uninhabited areas where no infrastructure exists. The power system at an unmanned site therefore must be extremely reliable. It must operate no matter what the weather conditions, and with as little human intervention as possible. In case something does go wrong, it must be able to communicate an alarm signal to the nearest manned station and to sustain the solar power system's operation for a period long enough for maintenance personnel to arrive.