Solar power as a renewable energy source hasn’t been breaking news for a long time, but recently, it’s gained some attention in the telecom sector as an answer to increasingly strenuous demands for energy. As technology – including AI – continue to demand more from our energy sources, is solar power the answer? In this article, we take a look.

Solar powered telecom is an increasing trend.

Many in the telecom industry – from providers to critical players in infrastructure – are looking to solar power to meet an energy demand. This has been a quietly growing trend for years.

For example, in 2022, AT&T invested in a massive power purchase agreement (PPA) with energy trading company, Vitol for solar electricity. The goal of the purchase was to help create a source of clean energy to reduce the company emissions, given that their electricity used to power their network is the company’s largest source of emissions. They had made a similar investment in solar energy in 2019, as well.

This year, leading global wireless network infrastructure company, American Tower Corporation, partnered with Swift Solar, a solar cell manufacturer, to work on integrating their specific type of “perovskite-silicon tandem” solar panels into telecom towers. According to PV Magazine, these perovskite-type solar cells are “known for high conversion efficiency, enabling more electricity generation from a smaller surface area.” They generate as much as 30% more electricity than traditional solar panels and are lightweight and easier to build.

Given that American Tower Corporation operates approximately 42,000 communications sites in the U.S. and over 149,000 sites globally, integrating these solar panels could be a game changer for energy consumption across the telecom industry as whole.

Solutions are needed.

The more our technology advances, becoming increasingly faster and more efficient, the more energy it burns. Investing in renewable, clean options is a must. For example, as AI data centers become more prominent, the amount of electricity needed can be staggering, not only for the strain it puts on power grids, but for its consumption potential. Solar power is one way to make this technology less environmentally harmful, while still prioritizing the communications technology of the AI age.

Solar power is being used beyond North America.

While North America is making steps towards integrating solar power with its telecommunications infrastructure, in other parts of the world, even bigger strides are being made.

In Malaysia, one telecom tower infrastructure company is launching  a solar program to ideally cover 100% of the energy needed to run its networks.

One of Argentina’s largest telecom providers has signed a ten year engagement agreement with a solar energy provider to power its operations, with a goal of reaching 50% reliance on renewable energy.

In Nigeria, the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) is “intensifying efforts to promote the use of renewable energy, especially solar, in the country’s telecoms sector, aiming to reduce operators’ reliance on diesel and lower costs.” Solar energy infrastructure would also make telecom more accessible in remote regions on the country, which have historically been excluded from high-speed access.

In conclusion…

Solar power investments are providing solutions to challenges facing the telecom industry all over the world. As our reliance on data networks continues to increase, robust solutions are of critical importance.