DC Microgrid for Telecommunications Service and Related Application

Facilities for telecommunications can also be said to be DC microgrids with storage batteries and backup power supplies. Telecommunication facilities around the world have been using DC 48 V for more than a century. The reason is that it is highly reliable and it is easy to integrate with the storage battery and DC-input communication equipment and maintain it. Expansion of the use of ICT has become a trigger to reconsider the primary energy source of the facility, and in particular promotes the introduction of renewable energy. Photovoltaic power generation and fuel cells have direct current output, and have high affinity for integration with a power supply system for telecommunications. By connecting the DC output directly to the power system in telecom site/data center, it is easy to construct a system with higher efficiency and higher reliability. This paper reports overview of telecommunication facility, recent topics, examples of adopting renewable energy, etc., and reports on future trends. In order to expand the use of the ICT system, the load density has increased, and various difficulties have arisen with the conventional DC 48 V as it is. One solution to this problem is the use of higher voltages such as DC 380V. Several practical examples are also included.