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First Look: Self-recharging hydrogen fuel cell for mobile base stations launched Bernard Cole Barcelona, Spain – In a move that could make mobile networks both more reliable and lower in cost in terms of services, Electro Power Systems SpA at the Mobile World Congress here launched ElectroSelf, what it claims is the world's first entirely self-recharging hydrogen fuel cell technology. It is designed to deliver dependable backup power for mobile networks in any location whether off-grid, in locations with unreliable power, or in extreme climates. The self-contained and self-recharging fuel-cell system consumes only water, produces zero greenhouse gas emissions and can be installed to backup renewable or mains power. According to Adriano Marconetto, founder and CEO, Electro Power Systems SpA, it will improve mobile reliability and lower cost, because it releases mobile operators from much of the inconvenience of providing backup power through gensets and batteries. It drives operating expenses down, minimizes maintenance, eliminates diesel refueling or battery replacement costs, and provides comprehensive remote power monitoring and control. The aim of ElectroSelf, he said, is to fundamentally change the economics of backup power provision. Initial capital expenditure is offset by a far lower total cost of ownership and an extended product life expectancy when compared with alternative solutions. According to Marconetto, it dramatically reduces the operating costs by eliminating any ongoing fuel costs, eliminating the cost for replacement of moving parts and allowing expensive maintenance visits to be less frequent. For example, it only requires minimal water top-up once per year. It is a completely clean technology with minimal CO2 emissions in manufacture and zero CO2 or NOX emissions in operation. Unlike battery solutions it has no hidden toxic waste disposal cost. It is specifically designed to work with both renewable and grid power. It is particularly useful for off-grid installations because it enables the storage of renewable energy, which is never supplied constantly. For example, the fuel cell could store solar energy during the day and then support the station during hours of darkness. Less frequent maintenance visits plus remote monitoring mean dramatically lower carbon emissions from maintenance personnel travel by car or truck. This smaller environmental footprint is matched by an ultra-neat physical footprint which requires no extra space for dedicated air-conditioning or cooling. Each ElectroSelf system is comprised of two units measuring just 600x800mm. ElectroSelf enables operators to expand far further off grid and into more extreme climates than legacy backup power technologies can tolerate. Combined with renewables as the main power source it can enable a base transceiver station to be located virtually anywhere on the planet. ElectroSelf can operate at any temperature between -20°C and 45° degrees and can be located indoors or outdoors even in extremes of climate. Such locations have always created maintenance challenges. ElectroSelf has advanced control and power electronics that enable fully remote management and control over TCP IP or mobile connections. For operators looking to release the potential of rural communities, it also provides the potential for selling excess power back into the grid or for providing community power, creating a further potential revenue stream for operators to pursue more rapid payback at the edges of their network. It is a closed system which is completely self-recharging. During power outages it generates power by combining Hydrogen (H2) and Oxygen (O2), producing only water as a by-product. The power system engages automatically whenever external power fails. Whenever power is available it generates its own hydrogen fuel by electrolysis of the demineralised waste water from the power generation phase. It does this automatically whenever there is external power available, keeping the H2 tank full. To learn more go to http://www.electrops.it.
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