Telia is piloting an innovative solution to provide telecom backup power using environmentally friendly hydrogen generators produced by the Estonian company PowerUP Energy Technologies.

Telia plans to become the first Estonian telecom to use green energy to provide backup power for its cell towers. The innovative solution will be an alternative power source if the cell tower gets cut off from the electricity supply due to extreme weather conditions or human error.

Hydrogen generators are superior to diesel generators in several key parameters: They do not emit greenhouse gases, work quietly, and do not require maintenance.

The first successful test was run in Telia’s Raudalu cell tower, where two 1kW hydrogen generators and two 9-litre hydrogen cylinders were tested.

Hydrogen fuel cell generators for telecoms

Using a backup hydrogen generator means that the cell tower can switch to the hydrogen source in seconds to extend the provision of mobile services by up to four hours. This time is usually sufficient to restore the standard electricity supply.

As the next step, hydrogen generators will be tested in winter. If these tests are successful, Telia can switch its fossil-fuel generators to innovative hydrogen generators.

According to Andre Visse, CTO at Telia Estonia, power cuts occur several times a year in Estonia, primarily due to extreme weather conditions.

“In the case of a power outage, it is critical that the customers retain access to mobile services. Hydrogen technology created by PowerUP could be a good and innovative alternative to diesel generators. This is a clean and environmentally friendly solution, which, by proxy, supports Telia’s environmental goals where one of our ambitions is to achieve net-zero emissions by 2030,” Visse added.

“All large European telecoms have stated in their strategic plans that they will replace fossil fuels with environmentally friendly technology, because EU directives mandate that CO2 emissions must be reduced by 50% by 2030, and net-zero or negative emissions must be achieved before 2050. Because of improved green policies, hydrogen has become more accessible as fuel, making it possible to build this kind of environmentally friendly solutions,” said Ivar Kruusenberg, founder of PowerUP Energy Technologies.

The portable hydrogen fuel cell-powered generators are innovative foremost due to their low impact on the environment. PowerUP electricity generators use hydrogen to produce power that does not emit carbon dioxide, instead, electricity is produced through electrolysis where water molecules are split into oxygen and hydrogen, emitting water vapour.

Additionally, hydrogen generators are smaller than diesel generators and do not produce noise. Thus, they can be used to produce electricity indoors. Furthermore, hydrogen generators are almost maintenance-free, enabling to save hundreds of euros per year per generator. The new generators are also portable, for example, 1 kW generator weighs only 26 kg.

“When hydrogen becomes increasingly accessible, the possibilities of this technology are limitless. Hydrogen can be used to power critical infrastructure, e.g. tower cells, hospitals, water pumps, but also office buildings that are oftentimes required to have backup generators, as well as off-grid systems, travel vans, etc.,” Kruusenberg elaborated on the usage areas of hydrogen electricity generators.

He added that one of the critical benefits of using hydrogen-powered energy sources is independence from fossil fuels produced by hostile countries, which is especially important in the current geopolitical situation.

PowerUp Energy Technologies is an Estonian-US deep tech company that develops and produces innovative and environmentally friendly energy solutions. Being an industry forerunner, PowerUP puts its emphasis on high quality and innovation.

https://etv.err.ee/1608739693/tormi-vastu-vesinikuga