Claro Puerto Rico testing solar power at Vieques site
RES Solar is installing equipment to harness the sun’s power to run Claro’s cell site in Vieques. (www.renewablesolutions.com)
Claro de Puerto Rico announced Tuesday it has begun testing the benefits of using solar technology at its cellular towers, with the installation of the first such equipment at its cell site in Vieques. If successful, the pilot program could be expanded to the main island, company officials confirmed.
The carrier is working with New York-based Renewable Energy Solution Systems, which is installing its Razor Series DC-DC Converter equipment as part of the Vieques site’s off grid solar solution.
“Claro, a subsidiary of America Movil, the world’s fourth largest telecommunications company in the world, is leading the industry in investing in renewable energy innovation as part of its environmentally responsible platform,” said Ileana Molina, the carrier’s communications director.
Upon Claro’s validation of the RES Systems’ solar solution, the company could potentially identify additional cell sites to rollout the solution in the future. Carrier representatives did not disclose how long they would test the system before deciding to go full-scale.
The project-related investment was also not revealed.
“Once completed, this installation and validation will be a significant milestone in the introduction of the Razor Series DC-DC Converter and solar solution to the telecommunications market,” said Greg Okpych, RES Systems president.
Essentially, the RES System equipment will offset power and reduce costs incurred at Claro’s wireless cell sites. High electricity costs is a problem that has been affecting individual and corporate clients in Puerto Rico for many years.
“We’re excited at the prospect of installing and demonstrating our solar solution and the company’s Razor Series DC to DC Converter to the Claro’s cell site marketplace,” said Okpych.
Generally speaking, telecom cell sites primarily run on DC power, and conventional solar applications do not address the inefficiencies of the system, he said.
To address that, RES Systems is installing a specifically designed and field-tested power solution for wireless telecom carriers.
