Ericsson and Deutsche Telekom (DT) say they have successfully trialed a 5G energy management system that uses both solar and wind energy to optimize power at mobile sites based on supply and demand. The results of the trial showed that on windy days, the site generated more renewable energy than it could consume.

The partnership aims to identify and prove energy efficiency and energy cost-reducing solutions by optimizing energy consumption and control and using renewable energy sources instead of carbon-intensive fossil fuel-based energy.

The live radio site in the Bavarian municipality of Dittenheim, north of Munich, Germany, has been partially powered by solar energy since the start of the project a year ago, DT spokesperson Philipp Kornstädt explained in a blog.

The site currently has 12 square meters of solar modules along with a wind turbine as a backup renewable energy source capable of generating five kilowatts of power.

The next phase of the project includes developing new features for efficiently using generated energy and storing surplus energy. And in the short-term, Kornstädt said, new energy sources like fuel cells will replace the need for diesel generators currently kept on site in reserve "for emergencies."

“Ensuring an integrated management of clean, efficient, and reliable power sources and usage is key for sustainable mobile site operations," DT SVP of Economics Leif Heitzer said in a statement.

The Ericsson Power System for energy management simultaneously integrates both solar and wind power, meaning the site can operate on a standalone basis without relying on a cable connection to the traditional electrical power grid, Kornstädt said.

This is with the caveat of optimal weather conditions — at least solar or wind sources need to be available, he added. "As long as weather conditions support the use of the renewable capabilities, the solution can make a major contribution to powering the site."

Solar and wind power sources and the associated batteries — which serve as storage in the event of an outage — are jointly controlled by the same system that manages the radio access network (RAN), which also provides voltage conversion and maximum power point tracking.

The companies expect this single management system will allow this to be integrated into existing sites in the future.