Completion of loiyangalani BTS
The most recent WTL installation was completed at Loiyangalani in Marsabit district where a hybrid system to provide power is now active. This installation comes hot on heels after those carried out in laisamis, Taru, Kianjiru and Mutarakwa sites. Since most parts of the rural areas fall outside the national power grid, Safaricom made a decision to deploy alternative energy power to run base stations situated in Kenya’s peripheral locations. This drive will enable Safaricom increase its customer base using new technology systems. A Hybrid System comprising of Wind Turbine and Solar Photovoltaic was thus installed in May 2007, in Loiyangalani, Marsabit District. Previous hybrid systems supplied and installed by Winafrique Technologies Limited, have ensured substantial cost savings. An example is where the fuel consumption of diesel to run the base station dropped from 15,330 litres to less than 4,885 litres.
The installed system.
The Wind Turbine/Solar Photovoltaic Hybrid system includes:-
- Wind Turbine,
- Solar Panels
- Back-up Diesel Generator to supplement in case of low wind/sun periods and
- A Battery Bank – to store surplus electric power for use later.
The surplus power after the power demand is satisfied is stored for periods of between one to five days, depending on the consumption.
The Solar Panels mounted on a Lorentz tracker System |
