Saft Sunica.plus batteries provide the ideal energy storage solution for hybrid power telecom installations

Such a solution, greedy in fuel, results in high operating costs and, for the more remote sites, the refueling and periodic maintenance of the generators creates logistical problems and results in significant additional expenditure. An increasingly attractive option for telecom operators is a hybrid system, with a diesel generator combined with a dedicated cycling battery operating alternately. This can reduce operating costs for fuel and maintenance by up to 66 percent while also cutting CO2 emissions in the same range. To ensure the lowest TCO (Total Cost of Ownership) of the hybrid solution, the different subsystems such as genset, rectifier, controller and battery must be carefully selected and sized to permit the highest system efficiency.

The use of a battery technology designed specifically to offer high levels of performance and reliability in hybrid applications, such as Saft’s Sunica.plus allows a single diesel generator to be used. This maintains system reliability while reducing capital expenditure since the second generator can be eliminated. The addition of solar panels or possibly a wind turbine enable an increase in cycling time and can further extend the calendar life of the battery and generator while also increasing the environmental benefits.

Sunica.plus batteries – for hybrid and PV power installations

Saft Sunica.plus nickel-based (Ni-Cd) batteries are designed for use in hybrid and solar applications. Their key feature is excellent chargeability that enables highly efficient operation under fluctuating charging conditions. They also offer good cycling capability to withstand daily and seasonal cycling at variable depths of discharge and state of charge, An additional benefit of the Sunica.plus design is that it provides absolute reliability and the capability to function in extreme temperatures (from –50°C to +70°C) while ensuring continuous operation at any state of charge. An important advantage of Sunica.plus is its low maintenance design that helps keep its TCO to a minimum.

It incorporates an optimized electrode design, combined with an internal gas recombination process that not only provides superior behaviour under unstable charging conditions, but also significantly extends the interval for topping-up with water.

This is especially important in remote installations.

Conference paper illustrates practical experience in hybrid power systems
Saft is presenting a conference paper ‘Delivering cost savings and environmental benefits with hybrid power’ that reports on its practical experience in deploying a Sunica,plus solution for a hybrid BTS installation in Africa. The paper will be presented in session MG1 on Monday October 19 at 14.00. A wide range of battery technologies for telecom applications In addition to Sunica.plus, Saft is also showing its Tel.X range, developed specifically for demanding outdoor applications such as cabinets and end terminals in fibre-optic ‘triple-play’ networks as well as BTS and BSC (Base Station Controller) installations in wireless networks located in remote areas that require long periods of autonomy (from 1 to 10 hours). Tel.X is both maintenance-free and compact, light and easy to install thanks to its simple modular design – less than 20 minutes is needed to install a typical 48 V battery. Another important technology on display is Saft’s Intensium 1 Power Plus range of Li-ion battery systems developed to meet the needs of the new generation, high technology applications, such as micro and macro BTs, for which Li-ion’s unique combination of high power and energy density in a compact package is currently the only practical and cost-effective solution.