Telefonica Moviles is to start using Fuel Cells as back up power supplies at its base stations in Venezuela. The operator is GenCore backup power systems from Plug Power. The initial deployment includes nine backup fuel cell systems that were purchased through Plug Power's Venezuelan distributor Corpo Teletecnical. The systems will be placed at tower locations with critical backup needs in the greater Caracas area.
This new deployment follows the completion of a successful eight-month trial at an active Telefonica Moviles wireless location outside of Caracas. The GenCore system responded effectively to several grid outages during the trial period, including one that lasted approximately 12 hours, providing power and maintaining tower operation when the AC grid failed due to overloading and weather-related factors.
Telefonica Moviles has approximately 700 towers in Venezuela and more than 10,000 sites across Central and South America. Richard Croce, Energy Manager of Telefonica Moviles in Venezuela identifies candidate sites for GenCore use as those where there is insufficient space for additional batteries or a generator, or where generators are prohibited due to noise or pollution issues or weight restrictions. Additional opportunities are expected to emerge as Telefonica Moviles continues to identify sites where traditional backup infrastructure frequently fails due to extreme weather conditions and an unstable electric grid.
According to Croce, "Telefonica is clearly the leader in network reliability while reducing our environmental impact across the network. We chose Plug Power's fuel cell backup power technology over additional investment in batteries and generators due to GenCore's robust reliability and clean, quiet operation. We believe GenCore clearly represents the next step in evolution of network reliability, and we look forward to further deployment of GenCore systems in the Venezuelan network."
Plug Power is also participating in GenCore trials with Telefonica Moviles in other key markets including Mexico, Brazil and Spain. Product trials in Mexico and Brazil are being conducted with Plug Power's distribution partner Tyco Electronics Power Systems."
Posted to the site on 18th July 2006
Posted to: www.cellular-news.com/story/18323.php