Abstract:
Base stations (BSs) are essential in cellular networks. Lack of access to reliable electricity in mobile
communication systems is a major economic and environmental concern for service delivery in Tanzania. Mobile
network operators (MNOs) use diesel generators (DG) to power their BSs which are costly and high greenhouse gases
(GHG) emissions. In this paper, we investigate challenges hindering the use of renewable energy (RE) by MNOs. We
provide a techno-economic analysis for using a hybrid power system (HPS) comprising of DG and RE. In technoeconomic
analysis, we considered solar, wind, battery, and DG in different configurations. The systems were simulated
in HOMER to get the optimized model suitable for the BS sites. Results show that the solar/DG/Battery and the
solar/wind/DG/Battery provide optimal solution susceptible to satisfy the needs. Although HPS suffers from the high
initial cost, the results are satisfactory. The analysis indicates a reduction of net present cost (NPC) by 54%, cost of
energy (COE) by more than 50%, and the GHG emissions for about 88%.
