PowerUP Energy Technologies: Revolutionising Telecom Resilience with Hydrogen
PowerUP Energy Technologies is an Estonian deep tech company that develops and produces innovative and environmentally friendly energy solutions. Under the BalticSeaH2 project, PowerUP will develop and test an energy system which has both fuel cell, and electrolyser in one box and can generate green hydrogen and clean electricity by the combination with renewable energy. But this is just one of many use cases of hydrogen fuel cells that PowerUP is currently working on. Let’s look closer at how emerging hydrogen technologies are tackling the issues of the telecom industry.
Written by Helen Hendrikson from PowerUP
The seamless provision of telecommunication in a digital age is as significant as it gets. However, every industry has its problems. In the case of telecom companies, it is power outages, storms and remoteness. The capacity to provide constant services is of utmost importance in cases of collapsed power lines and extreme weather.
PowerUP Energy Technologies is a leading-edge company within the industry, ready to upend the backup power solutions market. In partnership with giant telecom companies like Tele2 and Telia, PowerUP is leading the way towards using hydrogen fuel cell generators as backup power sources, changing the conventional conception of backup power altogether. As a result , the hydrogen systems that prove to be more reliable and sustainable have become the solutions of choice to ensure a continuous supply of service in the worst circumstances.
The use of diesel generators had previously been successful but created problems related to both environmental and noise pollution. In a world now focused on clean and green energies, diesel cannot be the obvious choice anymore. While big battery banks are effective in some cases, they tend to get heavy, expensive and their capacity might fall short. PowerUP addresses these issues by offering a more efficient and cost-effective alternative, ensuring a reliable power supply during adverse conditions while embracing sustainable and eco-friendly energy practices.
In addition, hydrogen generators require no replacement, are lightweight and compact, and demand minimal maintenance. However, the choice of the most suitable solution for each mobile mast depends on the specific conditions: in more open areas, solar panels can be employed, whereas, in confined spaces, a hydrogen generator might be the sole viable option.
How do hydrogen fuel cell generators work?
The collaboration between PowerUP and the telco companies began with a successful installation demo. Telia went for a robust 4kW system while Tele2 settled for a 2kW system – this compact setup occupies a space no larger than two desktop computers. In addition to the generators, a battery bank is used to ensure that in the event of a power outage, the battery can temporarily cover the initial power gap, which might take up to 30 seconds before the hydrogen generators take over.
These generators can operate on hydrogen for up to ten hours. In most cases, this time is sufficient for restoring the normal electricity supply. Still, the potential for extended power supply exists if additional hydrogen tanks are stored on-site, enabling the system to function for several days. Furthermore, PowerUP has implemented its own communication system to manage and monitor power supplies, even in the face of network outages.
PowerUP envisions a future in which their innovative hydrogen generators become the cornerstone of energy security for critical infrastructure and will delve deeper into their cooperation in other crucial applications across the Baltic. By developing generators with higher output power, the company aims to cater not only to Estonia but also to other countries seeking greener energy solutions. The successful use case of telecom companies promise an exciting future where PowerUP could pioneer the integration of hydrogen and green energy solutions across Europe and the world.
PowerUp Energy Technologies is an Estonian deep tech company that develops and produces innovative and environmentally friendly energy solutions. Being an industry forerunner, PowerUP puts its emphasis on high quality and innovation.