A team of researchers at the University of Southern California collaborated with Samsung to develop a model that interprets how fast wireless devices can capture and store energy to demonstrate that complex networks can be run on renewable energy sources.
Mobile networks require a large amount of electricity and diesel fuel to operate and studies have estimated that telecommunications makes up one percent of human carbon emissions and energy consumption will triple in the next several years. To help remedy this problem, the researchers calculated the amount of power needed by a small transmitter, also known as small cell, when active and the expected user demand in a network. They found that combining a few more small cells to offset the cells that have run out of power, they were able to produce reliable networks.
Read more about how this concept could make renewable technology possible for mobile networks.
