PV-Powered CoMP-Based Green Cellular Networks with a Standby Grid Supply

TL;DR

This paper introduces a green cellular network framework powered by PV solar energy with a standby grid, utilizing CoMP techniques and dynamic energy sharing to enhance energy efficiency and reduce grid dependence.

Contribution

It presents a novel PV-powered cellular network architecture with independent energy storage, dynamic inter-BS solar sharing, and evaluates its energy efficiency through extensive simulations.

Findings

Reduced grid energy consumption through solar sharing

Improved energy efficiency with optimized storage and transmission parameters

Effective CoMP techniques enhance network performance

Abstract

This paper proposes a novel framework for PV-powered cellular networks with a standby grid supply and an essential energy management technique for achieving envisaged green networks. The proposal considers an emerging cellular network architecture employing two types of coordinated multipoint (CoMP) transmission techniques for serving the subscribers. Under the proposed framework, each base station (BS) is powered by an individual PV solar energy module having an independent storage device. BSs are also connected to the conventional grid supply for meeting additional energy demand. We also propose a dynamic inter-BS solar energy sharing policy through a transmission line for further greening the proposed network by minimizing the consumption from the grid supply. An extensive simulation-based study in the downlink of a Long-Term Evolution (LTE) cellular system is carried out for evaluating the energy efficiency performance of the proposed framework. System performance is also investigated for identifying the impact of various system parameters including storage factor, storage capacity, solar generation capacity, transmission line loss, and different CoMP techniques.