Helix to trial wind-powered mobile phone network

Helix Wind, the US-based provider of small-scale vertical axis wind turbines, has revealed plans to test the viability of using two small wind turbines to power mobile phone towers from early next year.

The San Diego, California-based wind energy specialist will run the pilot for between one and three months in southern California in partnership with Core Communications Group, which provides professional services such as site acquisition and construction management to the wireless industry.

Core is working on behalf of its client, a tower company called Vertical Green, which is hoping to develop one of the first grid-connected mobile phone sites to be powered by renewable energy.

"Even grid-connected cell phone towers can benefit from renewable energy, and wind power can dramatically reduce the emissions and carbon footprint associated with them," said Ian Gardner, Wind Helix's chief executive.

He added that, under the right conditions, the company's 50 to 300kw vertical axis turbines may even be able to provide surplus energy back to the grid, which would provide an additional revenue stream to tower owners if sold back to the electricity grid under a Power Purchase Agreement.

There are currently about 3,500 mobile phone towers in Southern California and the data volume they handle has doubled in the last three years due to the continued expansion of wireless broadband. A further 1,000-2,000 such towers are expected to be erected over the next five years in a move that could increase demand for towers that can be powered by renewable energy.

Renewable energy technologies have become increasingly popular amongst mobile phone operators in recent years as they seek to curb energy bills and carbon emissions. Many mobile phone masts are found in remote locations, making it costly to connect them to the grid or power using onsite generators – as such, a number of trials are underway around the world to use solar and wind energy to power masts and base stations.