Eltek installs hybrid solar power system at Verizon’s cell site in US

Eltek has completed the installation of an off-grid hybrid solar power system at the basestation of Verizon Wireless located at the Bear Mountain, California, US.

The company installed Flatpack2 High Efficiency (HE) hybrid solar-propane DC power system, at the wireless basestation to provide reliable cell service.

Eltek’s Flatpack2 HE hybrid solar power systems have powered the Bear Mountain cell site, which has no access to utility power and runs on propane generators and a 20-year-old hybrid solar power system

The Flatpack2 HE hybrid solar power system includes the Flatpack2 HE solar converter that connects to the solar panels and converts the solar power into a regulated 48VDC for supply to the telecom equipment.

The hybrid system also includes a rectifier and the Smartpack controller.

Eltek North American sales vice president David Leal said solar power can play a significant role in powering telecom sites where it can be engineered to significantly reduce the operating expenses and maximize power output.

"What Verizon has done at the Bear Mountain site shows the possibilities for telecom solar throughout the United States," Leal added.

Eltek will manage the entire power infrastructure including inverters, rectifiers, generators and battery recharging.

The company says the new system will help reduce maintenance costs of the cell site.