Tower Power – Redflow energy storage for telecommunications

Redflow’s ZBM2 zinc-bromine flow batteries provide the ideal hard-working, long-lived, temperature-tolerant energy storage systems required for off-grid telecommunication towers.

From Australia and New Zealand to Latin America, telecommunication service providers have used Redflow batteries to store and provide power for remote telecom tower sites.

Read more about the benefits of Redflow batteries for telecommunication companies by clicking here.

 

Redflow tower power: More resources

White Paper: Redflow Telco Application

Presentation: Energy Storage for Communities, Mining and Telecommunications

ZBM2 case study: Telecom BTS case study from Latin America

News, May 2017 Redflow secures A$800,000 battery sale for tropics

News, September 2017 Hi-Tech places second US$600,000 order for Redflow batteries

Redflow demos ZBM2 benefits at TowerXChange South Africa

Redflow this week promotes its ZBM2 zinc-bromine flow batteries for use in the booming telecommunications tower market at the TowerXChange event in South Africa this week.

TowerXchange is an open community for thought leaders in the emerging market towers industry, bringing together mobile network operators (MNOs), tower companies, investors, equipment and service providers to share best practices in passive and active infrastructure management, opex reduction, and to accelerate infrastructure sharing.

Redflow has a stand at the TowerXchange Meetup for Africa and the Middle East, which is running at the Sandton Convention Centre, Johannesburg, from October 3-4.

Redflow’s presence at TowerXChange aligns with the company’s focus, announced earlier this year, to insert its long-lived zinc-bromine flow batteries into the lead-acid refresh cycle for telco towers, a replacement process that typically occurs every 18-36 months in warm and tropical climates.  

To learn more about the benefits of Redflow energy storage for the telecommunications sector, visit http://redflow.com/applications/telecommunications/.

Telecommunications

Redflow powers telecoms in the most demanding locations.

Redflow’s ZBM2 zinc-bromine flow batteries provide energy for remotely-located telecommunications infrastructure internationally, including Australia, New Zealand, Indonesia, the Philippines, Thailand, India, Latin America and elsewhere. Redflow’s energy storage solutions equip telecom providers to ensure the off-grid or backup power supply requirements for remotely located telecommunication towers, effectively solving the problems caused by unstable grids, blackouts and intermittent renewable energy.

Soaring global use of mobile phones has led to estimates of 2.5 billion smartphones and four million telecommunication towers by 2018. The strongest growth in telecom tower deployment is in developing nations in Africa, Asia and the Indian subcontinent, where wireless telephony and Internet access have leapfrogged wired telco infrastructure, often in areas with unstable or no grid access.

Telecommunications providers in these areas face significant supply issues, including intermittent power and supply outages that can last for hours, days and even weeks. Even in developed nations, telcos need to ensure failsafe energy supplies to their Base Transceiver Sites (BTS) to meet customer expectations of uninterrupted access to mobile phone and data coverage.

Redflow’s 48-volt DC ZBM2 zinc-bromine flow batteries solve many of the problems that impact telecommunications providers, including the ability to operate in hot and dusty conditions without active cooling; long-term storage at any state of charge, from empty to full, without damaging the battery; and construction materials with little resale value, making them less attractive to thieves. The benefits of Redflow zinc-bromine flow batteries follow:

  • ZBM2 protects telecom coverage from grid outages and intermittent power supplies
  • ZBM2 stores solar energy until it’s needed, eliminating the intermittency of renewable power
  • ZBM2 stores 10kWh of energy with no storage capacity loss over 10 years
  • ZBM2 batteries deliver 100% depth of discharge on a daily basis
  • ZBM2 has a warranty for 10 years or 36,500 kWh throughput, whichever comes first
  • ZBM2 can be stored at any state of charge – from empty to full – for months or years
  • ZBM2’s ‘virtual genset’ mode loses no power over time and starts in 30 seconds
  • ZBM2 works in temperatures as hot as 50 degrees C (122 degrees F) without active cooling
  • ZBM2’s inherently non-flammable electrolyte means it has no risk of thermal runaway
  • ZBM2 allows remote access or monitoring via the Internet to reduce the need for site visits
  • ZBM2’s unique design reduces the risk of theft
  • ZBM2 reduces operating expenses (OPEX) and diesel costs when used with a genset
  • ZBM2 directly replaces lead-acid batteries at existing BTS locations in a fraction of the space.

To learn more about Redflow’s ZBM2 zinc-bromine flow batteries, visit our ZBM2 page or contact Redflow

Redflow ZBM2 telecommunications: More resources

White Paper: Redflow Telco Application

Presentation: Energy Storage for Communities, Mining and Telecommunications

ZBM2 case study: Telecom BTS case study from Latin America

News, May 2017 Redflow secures A$800,000 battery sale for tropics

News, September 2017 Hi-Tech places second US$600,000 order for Redflow batteries

Hi-Tech places second US$600,000 order for Redflow batteries

Australian battery company Redflow Limited has repeated its largest ever sale of ZBM2 zinc-bromine flow batteries, after receiving a second international order worth about US$600,000 (A$750,000).

Auckland-based Hi-Tech Solutions placed this latest order for a major, multiple stage project which is using Redflow’s ZBM2 batteries to build advanced hybrid energy storage systems that will deliver reliable power to multiple remote sites in a Pacific Island nation. Hi-Tech specialises in providing telecommunications and infrastructure services for clients in New Zealand and internationally. Redflow has completed delivery of all batteries to fulfil Hi-Tech’s first order, announced in May.

Redflow CEO Simon Hackett said this repeat large sale validated the appeal of ZBM2 batteries to displace lead-acid batteries for network power applications in demanding and remote environments. “We are delighted that Hi-Tech has again chosen Redflow batteries,” he said.

Continue reading “Hi-Tech places second US$600,000 order for Redflow batteries” →

Redflow secures A$800,000 battery sale for tropics

Australian energy storage specialist Redflow today announces its largest single sale of ZBM2 zinc-bromine flow batteries, worth about US$600,000 (A$800,000), for multiple sites in the Pacific Islands. Redflow partner Vertiv (formerly Emerson Network Power) will provide the batteries for an energy storage solution being designed by New Zealand-based Hi-Tech Solutions.

Hitech is building advanced hybrid energy storage systems to provide reliable, remote power to multiple sites in a Pacific Island nation. This first ZBM2 order from Hi-Tech supports the first stage of a multiple stage project.

Redflow CEO Simon Hackett said this major sector sale recognised the unique advantages of its batteries. “This high-workload deployment in the tropics is ideal for our zinc-bromine flow batteries,” he said.

Continue reading “Redflow secures A$800,000 battery sale for tropics” →