Digital solutions platform Globe has concluded its pilot program showcasing hybrid solar power, marking a milestone in sustainable energy adoption.
The initiative, spanning from 2022 to 2023, focused on integrating hybrid solar power across 26 diverse Globe sites, comprising three in the National Capital Region (NCR), 17 in South Luzon, and six in Mindanao.
These sites encompassed off-grid towers traditionally reliant on diesel gensets, which can now be fully powered either solely by renewable energy with a battery energy storage system or a combination of renewables and diesel fuel. The technology underwent testing in both bad-grid tower sites plagued by frequent power outages and good-grid tower sites utilizing a mix of coal and renewable energy sources from the power grid.
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“Successfully implementing hybrid solar power across multiple sites represents a big leap in our efforts to decarbonize our operations,” said Joel Agustin, head of Globe Network Planning and Engineering. “Beyond demonstrating our dedication to environmental stewardship, it also cements Globe’s status as the Most Sustainability-Driven Network Operator in the Philippines.”
Savings
The outcomes of this endeavor have been striking, with Globe estimating savings of over 119,000 liters of diesel fuel and avoidance of over 67,000 kWh of electricity consumption, amounting to approximately P6.9 million in savings. These figures underscore not only the program’s environmental benefits but also its potential for cost savings and efficiency enhancements in sustainable energy solutions.
Traditionally reliant on electricity from the national power grid, a substantial portion of which is derived from coal, Globe’s cell sites have also utilized conventional diesel gensets for backup power. However, the transition to sustainable sources became imperative, particularly for sites lacking commercial power-grid connectivity or experiencing unreliable grid conditions.
Globe’s hybrid solar power solution features several innovative components, including a Solar Mini-Grid offering scalable capacity and adaptability, ideal for deployment in challenging terrains. The solution incorporates an Advanced Solar Hybrid system, intelligently utilizing solar energy primarily and seamlessly switching to the rectifier battery system and diesel genset as required.
Buoyed by the promising outcomes, Globe is poised to progressively roll out its hybrid solar power technology across its cell sites.