In a move that aligns with Estonia’s rapid expansion of renewable energy infrastructure, Elisa Estonia has initiated a pilot project to power 13 of its base stations using solar energy. The initiative, spanning seven municipalities, sees each station fitted with 20 solar panels, marking a significant step in the company’s ambition to transition its entire network to renewables.
This project unfolds against a backdrop of impressive national growth in photovoltaics. Estonia’s solar capacity surged from just 110 MW in 2020 to 812 MW by the end of 2023, and its total renewable capacity is projected to reach 1,214 MW in 2025. Elisa’s effort is part of a broader trend within the Estonian telecom sector, as competitor Telia has also equipped 43 of its mobile sites with solar installations.
Strategic Energy Management and How the Energy Firm Powers 13 Estonia Base Stations With Solar Energy
To support its renewable energy goals, Elisa is also enhancing its energy storage capabilities. The company plans to install new AI-integrated lithium batteries at nearly 100 base stations this year. This combination of solar generation and advanced battery storage is designed to create a more resilient, efficient, and sustainable network, ensuring reliable service even with intermittent power sources.
The innovation extends beyond Estonia’s borders through a partnership with Ålcom, a telecom operator in the Åland Islands. This collaboration leverages Elisa’s Distributed Energy Storage (DES) solution to integrate solar energy directly into mobile network operations. Following a successful trial, the AI/ML-powered DES system will now be used to store solar power in the network’s backup batteries.
“This advance proves how we can harness AI/ML-powered technology and renewable power generation in mobile network operations to fight climate change and reduce carbon emissions,” stated Jukka-Pekka Salmenkaita, VP for AI and Special Projects at Elisa. He added that the solution provides “the added benefits of cost savings and improved network resilience.”
A New Model for Telecom Energy Use
For partners like Ålcom, this technological integration is a cornerstone of their sustainability strategy. Peter Löfman, Head of Network at Ålcom, commented on the project’s value: “Including solar production in the energy mix helps us reduce costs and gain flexibility and means to cope with variability and uncertainty in energy generation, demand, and grid availability.”
The Elisa DES solution transforms the economic model for telecom operators by turning their backup batteries into a virtual power plant (VPP). This allows operators to participate in the energy market by providing balancing services to the grid. Energy can be purchased and stored during off-peak hours when prices are low and used or sold back during peak demand.
Henri Korpi, EVP for International Digital Services at Elisa, emphasized the groundbreaking nature of this capability. “This type of democratization and real-time participation in the energy market has not been accessible to telecom operators before. Selling excess capacity back to the grid to help balance supply and demand can be a source of additional revenue for operators.” Through these initiatives, Elisa is not only reducing its own carbon footprint but also pioneering a new, more integrated role for telecommunications in the green energy transition.
Sources
- Powering Estonia’s Future: Security, Sustainability and Sovereignty
- [PDF] TRENDS IN PHOTOVOLTAIC APPLICATIONS 2024 – IEA-PVPS
- Report: Estonia needs 1,000 megawatts worth of new power plants …
- Elisa Estonia Outlines Base Stations Equipped With AI-Based …
- and answers by – Estonia exported on 05-06-2024 by the UNFCCC …
- [PDF] ELECTRICITY and GAS MARKETS in ESTONIA REPORT – Ceer.eu
- Elisa Estonia starts testing solar power at 13 base stations
- 43 of Telia’s mobile sites in Estonia are now supported by solar panels
