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Telecommunications Backup Power

Telecommunications providers must provide high-quality, reliable service with 24/7 availability, especially in adverse weather conditions and emergency situations. To do this, they must provide redundancy and backup power throughout their systems to ensure they do not lose service in the event of a power outage.

When power from the grid is lost, a backup power source at each tower or equipment location must assume the site load. In many cases, telecommunications sites are equipped with a combination of backup power such as batteries and a generator. Most telecommunications facilities will have at least 8-hour backup (often required by regulation), but—particularly in locations subject to lengthy power outages such as hurricane prone areas—24-hour, 72-hour or longer backup capability is needed.

Batteries

Batteries are the most common source of backup power. Lead-acid batteries are continually charged by grid power and then provide the stored electricity as backup power until the grid is restored. However, batteries can supply only as much power as they have stored, and their operation can be hindered by severe weather conditions such extreme temperatures. Batteries provide direct current (DC) power.

Generators

Diesel generators are also used for telecommunications backup power. Some sites employ generators as their primary backup power source, while others use generators to back up their battery power for extended outages. Generators provide alternating current (AC) power and can be automatically or manually activated. In remote off-grid locations, generators may be used as general power sources.

Fuel Cells

Fuel cells are increasingly being employed to provide backup power for telecommunications, emergency response communication and other critical facilities. Backup power fuel cells generally use proton exchange membrane or PEM technology (also known as polymer electrolyte fuel cells), which are fueled directly by hydrogen, operate at relatively low temperature, are smaller than some other fuel cells, and have very short warm-up time (most PEM fuel cells have integral batteries or ultracapacitors to provide immediate coverage). Like generators, fuel cells can be primary backup power sources or supplementary to batteries. Fuel cells provide DC power.

Learn more about fuel cell operation, maintenance, and advantages.