Project Background

Base stations in Mauritania, especially those in remote areas, face unstable power supply. Frequent grid failures and the increasing cost of diesel power generation significantly reduce base station operational efficiency. To address these issues, Highjoule partnered with a local telecommunications company to provide a novel off-grid solar-plus-storage system. This system provides stable and environmentally friendly power to base stations, ensuring continuous network operation.

Project Challenges

Challenges facing base stations in Mauritania include:

• Grid instability: Incomplete power grids in remote areas lead to unstable power supply and frequent base station downtime.
• High diesel power generation costs: With rising diesel prices, relying on diesel power generation is becoming increasingly expensive.
• Extreme Climate: Mauritania’s weather conditions are extremely harsh, with extreme heat, sandstorms, and salt spray causing frequent equipment corrosion and increasing maintenance costs.

Highjoule’s Solution

Highjoule’s off-grid solar-plus-storage solution is designed to address these challenges. The solution includes the following key components:

1. Off-grid Solar System

Mauritania boasts abundant sunlight, and Highjoule leveraged this to install 12-18kW solar panels at each base station. This solar system provides stable power to the base stations, ensuring uninterrupted operation even during grid outages.

2. Energy Storage System

We use lithium iron phosphate (LiFePO₄) batteries to store excess power generated by the solar panels. Each energy storage system is capable of over 4,000 charge and discharge cycles and has a service life of up to 10 years. This ensures that the base stations remain operational even in the absence of sunlight or during cloudy days.

3. Hybrid Power Management

Highjoule’s intelligent Energy Management System (EMS) automatically detects grid conditions. If the grid fails, the system immediately switches to battery power, ensuring continuous base station operation. The EMS also provides real-time monitoring, allowing operators to remotely monitor the health of the batteries, grid, and solar panels at any time.

4. Environmentally Adaptable Design

Taking into account Mauritania’s harsh climate, Highjoule has designed its equipment to be resistant to corrosion, high temperatures, and wind and sand. Both the solar panels and battery cabinets are treated with a special anti-corrosion coating to withstand salt spray and wind, ensuring stable operation in extreme environments.

Project Advantages

1. Improved Operational Reliability

With this off-grid solar + energy storage system, the base station’s power availability has increased from 75% before the project launch to 99.9%, completely eliminating downtime caused by grid outages and ensuring the reliability of the communication network.

2. Reduced Operating Costs

Reduced reliance on diesel generators significantly reduces energy costs. During peak electricity demand, the system utilizes low-cost electricity through energy storage batteries, further reducing electricity costs. The project is expected to achieve a return on investment within three years.

3. Environmental Benefits

This system, using solar energy and energy storage technology, significantly reduces carbon emissions. Each base station is expected to reduce carbon dioxide emissions by approximately 15 tons annually, replacing traditional diesel generators and significantly reducing environmental pollution.

4. Remote Monitoring and Intelligent Management

Highjoule’s energy management system supports remote monitoring, allowing users to check battery status, power usage, and overall system performance at any time, reducing on-site maintenance workloads. Operators can access real-time data through the cloud platform to ensure the system is always operating at optimal levels.

Project Results

Since the project’s launch in 2022, Highjoule has provided efficient and stable power solutions for multiple base stations in Mauritania, achieving the following results:

Power Availability: Base station power availability has increased from 75% to 99.9%, completely eliminating downtime caused by grid outages.

Cost Savings: By reducing diesel consumption, the project has saved operators significant fuel and maintenance costs annually.

User Satisfaction: All users reported that the system has not only improved communication network reliability but also reduced operating costs. Some customers are planning to increase system capacity to accommodate future business growth.

Customer Feedback

“The off-grid solar + energy storage solution provided by Highjoule has significantly improved the reliability of our base stations. The system not only reduces operating costs but also reduces our reliance on diesel generators, aligning with our sustainability goals.”
—Technical Director of a Mauritanian telecom operator

Conclusion

By implementing an innovative off-grid solar + energy storage solution, Highjoule successfully addressed grid instability, high fuel costs, and a harsh environment at its base stations in Mauritania. This provides the telecom operator with a reliable and sustainable power solution, helping to improve service quality and reduce operating costs.

For more information about Highjoule’s off-grid energy solutions, please visit Highjoule Energy Solutions.