NBN Co is trialling a flexible solar panel sleeve designed to maintain fixed wireless services during power outages, with the potential to supply up to 40 per cent of a site’s daytime electricity demand.
The month-long proof-of-concept trial is taking place at a live fixed wireless site in New Gisborne, Victoria, where solar panels have been wrapped around the north-facing side of a 40m-high monopole.
Developed by Decon Corporation, the system uses thin, bendable solar laminate technology integrated with existing battery storage to provide an alternative power source during mains outages.
The solution is designed to keep equipped sites operating for up to 12 hours during an outage, potentially maintaining connectivity for nearby customers.
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Decon developed the solar sleeve, battery storage system and mounting solution at its manufacturing headquarters in Scoresby, Melbourne.
Its patented mounting technology enables the solar laminate to be installed on existing monopoles, with the lightweight panels designed to minimise additional structural loading.
NBN Co chief technology officer Guy Scott said the trial demonstrated how renewable energy could improve network resilience.
“The initial trial demonstrated the potential of the curved solar solution in reducing our overall carbon footprint through more solar and batteries,” he said.
“Now we’ve moved into the operational phase and believe this solution could help improve the resiliency of the nbn network by keeping selected fixed wireless sites online during mains related outages, keeping local communities connected during times of need.”
The trial is particularly relevant to emergency situations, when mains power failures can also disrupt telecommunications infrastructure.
NBN Co will continue evaluating the system’s performance and explore opportunities to deploy similar energy solutions across its network.