Leading South Pacific Carrier Powers Wireless Network with Hybrid Solar Solution from Eltek Valere

BARCELONA, Spain--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Eltek Valere today announced that leading South Pacific wireless operator Digicel Pacific has installed a hybrid solar-diesel DC power system based on the company’s Flatpack2 HE Solar Charger to build out its wireless network serving Papua New Guinea (PNG).

“Rather than fight the environment, we were able to provide them with a flexible power solution that enabled them to both expand their network while cutting costs dramatically.”

The announcement was made just before Mobile World Congress (Feb. 15-18), where Eltek Valere will be demonstrating its DC power solutions for wireless networks in stand 7GP3.

Digicel Pacific implemented a 35-tower high capacity microwave backbone and basestation network to provide more bandwidth for its mobile phone customers on the island. But the rugged terrain of PNG, one of the least explored areas in the world, meant that many of those sites were in areas not served by grid power.

Initially, Digicel Pacific deployed battery-powered network equipment with diesel generators to charge the batteries. These generators ran continuously but only at an efficiency of only 20 percent of load and were fed by monthly helicopter fuel runs, translating to a cost of US$6 per kWh.

With the hybrid-solar solution, Digicel installed photovoltaic cells in addition to the generators and was able to reduce generator hours to four per day and boost efficiency to 80%-90% of load which reduced costs to about US$1 per kWh.

An integral part of the solution was an Eltek Valere DC power system that converted both solar and generator power into 48V DC for the load. The Eltek Valere solution is composed of the Flatpack2 HE Solar Charger and the Flatpack2 rectifier. The Smartpack Controller manages the entire system, monitoring battery power levels and input voltage levels from the solar system and switching between the solar system and the diesel gen-set. The Smartpack features also include advance battery monitoring routines, as well as gen-set optimization programs and considerable data logging options.

“Digicel Pacific faced a unique challenge in building a network across a country with topography as difficult as Papua New Guinea,” said Kenneth Bodahl, Managing Director of Asia Pacific for Eltek Valere. “Rather than fight the environment, we were able to provide them with a flexible power solution that enabled them to both expand their network while cutting costs dramatically.”

The Flatpack2 HE Solar Charger connects to four to six solar panels and converts the solar power into controlled 48VDC for supply to telecom equipment. The solar charger is based on Eltek Valere’s industry-leading High Efficiency (HE) technology, which delivers more than 96% AC-DC power conversion efficiency.

About Digicel Pacific

Launched in the South Pacific in Nov. 2006, Digicel has become the fastest-growing mobile operator in the region, with operations in Samoa, Nauru, Tonga, Vanuatu, Papua New Guinea and Fiji. Digicel is the largest telecommunications company in the Caribbean and Pacific and operates in 31 markets worldwide. Digicel recently launched new operations in three countries in Central America. The company is renowned for competitive rates, unbeatable coverage, and superior customer care, a wide variety of products and services, and state-of-the-art handsets. For more information, please visit http://www.digicelpacific.com/ or http://www.digicelfiji.com/.

About Eltek Valere

Eltek Valere AS is the industry’s leader in green, high-efficiency power technology and is advancing its goal of ‘becoming the greenest power in the industry’ through innovative power solutions and excellence in product quality and customer support. Headquartered in Drammen, Norway, Eltek Valere is a global leader in power electronics offering end-to-end power solutions for mobile and fixed-line network infrastructure and industrial applications and includes rectifiers, inverters, enclosures and alternative energy solutions. The company has more than 2,000 employees, offices in 25 countries and sales in more than 100 countries. Founded in 1971, Eltek Valere is part of Eltek ASA listed on Oslo Stock Exchange (OSE). More information is available at www.eltekvalere.com.