Improving telecom site power performance in Africa

China’s Huawei has outlined how its latest energy technology has helped telecom operators in Africa maintain more stable power systems in the face of evolving challenges

The company recently showcased in Dubai its next-generation digital site power facility solution, Single SitePower, which, it claims, is set to drive the intelligent transformation of ICT energy infrastructure across Africa.

According to James Chen, president of Huawei's Carrier Business, the levelised costs of electricity (LCOE) of solar systems and batteries keep declining, and their payback periods have become shorter, presenting “tremendous opportunities” for operators and tower companies to achieve a green energy transition.

In a statement, the company noted that global operators and tower companies are facing a wide range of energy challenges, including rising demand.

The communications industry consumes 2.5% of the world's electricity, it noted, with base stations accounting for over 60%. Along with the rapid development of new technologies such as AI, network traffic and energy consumption are surging.

Additionally, power shortages, ageing infrastructure and natural disasters put immense strain on network resilience and evolution.

“To help overcome these challenges, the Single SitePower solution leverages technological innovations to build four intelligent synergy systems,” the statement read, “helping operators build simple, green, resilient, and safe sites.”

Power-Grid Synergy: Huawei's iGrid grid adaptation technology helps base stations run stably even in the case of frequent power outages and weak grids. “In Africa, the technology has helped operators improve the site power availability (PAV) from 60% to 99.9% in areas with frequent power outages,” the statement added.

Solar-Battery Synergy: Based on Huawei's iSolar green site solution, solar systems and lithium batteries can be deployed at sites to ensure diverse energy supplies, reducing the risk of site breakdown due to external energy environment changes. “Moreover, the Solar-Battery Synergy technology enables the 100% integration of surplus solar energy,” it noted, “increasing the energy yield by 55% compared with the traditional solution.”

Power-RAN Synergy: Huawei's adaptive power backup technology doubles the power backup time for communication services without changing the battery configuration. In Europe, it reported that the solution has helped operators cope with large-scale power outages, with the power backup time drastically extended from 2.5 hours to more than seven hours.

Power-Service Synergy: Huawei's O&M management system integrates AI diagnosis to implement proactive analysis, risk prediction, precise fault locating, rapid root cause analysis, and precise energy scheduling. This improves network O&M efficiency and fault recovery speed, enhances network resilience, and reduces OPEX by 50%.

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AXIAN Energy breaks ground on 60MW solar project to boost clean energy and development in southern Senegal. (Image source: AXIAN Energy)

AXIAN Energy has launched construction of the NEA Kolda solar power plant, with a groundbreaking event in Tankanto Escale, Kolda — located roughly 700 km from Senegal’s capital, Dakar

Regional leaders and community members, who stand to benefit most from the project, were present at the ceremony.

Powering clean energy and community growth

The NEA Kolda project is a major milestone in Senegal’s effort to transition to renewable energy, aiming to achieve 40% renewables in its power mix by 2030. With a planned capacity of 60 MW and a battery energy storage system (BESS) capable of storing 72 MWh, the facility is expected to set new standards for regional energy innovation.

More than 235,000 people are set to benefit from improved electricity access, while the national grid will gain additional strength to meet peak demands. This project underscores the Senegalese government’s broader vision to promote affordable, clean, and widespread energy solutions.

NEA Kolda is the product of strong collaboration between major energy players and international financial institutions. In October 2024, the Emerging Africa & Asia Infrastructure Fund (EAAIF), the Dutch development bank FMO, and German development financier DEG pledged €84 million (approx. US$92mn) to fund the project, pushing the total investment to around €105 million (approx. US$114mn).

The Voltalia–Entech consortium, both experts in renewable energy solutions, has been contracted for the project’s design and construction, combining expertise to ensure successful delivery. This project is part of a broader African strategy to curb fossil fuel use and scale renewable energy deployment across the continent.

AXIAN Energy prioritises human development as a core pillar of its mission, and NEA Kolda is designed not only to deliver clean power but also to catalyse socio-economic progress in the Casamance region.

AXIAN Energy has integrated a wide-reaching corporate social responsibility programme into the development. Nearly 2 billion CFA francs (approx. US$3.3mn) have been committed to community empowerment, spanning healthcare access, education, economic opportunity, cultural enrichment, and climate resilience.

To help local populations achieve financial independence, AXIAN Energy has conducted financial literacy training—focusing on women and youth—equipping them with tools to manage income, build businesses, and pursue long-term entrepreneurial success.

The project supports food security through farmer training in sustainable practices and seed distribution. These steps have empowered local farmers to enhance productivity, improve environmental stewardship, and gain economic autonomy.

NEA Kolda is also a vital source of employment in the region, with nearly 400 locals expected to be engaged in both the construction and operation phases of the plant—ensuring the project’s benefits extend well beyond clean energy provision.

PowerSwitch 7000 delivers reliable, intelligent power switching to ensure uptime for critical digital infrastructure worldwide. (Image source: Vertiv)

Vertiv, a global provider of critical digital infrastructure, has introduced the Vertiv PowerSwitch 7000, a new generation static transfer switch that enhances the company’s power solutions lineup

This system extends Vertiv’s end-to-end offerings designed to support the accelerating demands of the digital world across key sectors such as data centres, financial services, and manufacturing. Now available across Europe, the Middle East, and Africa, the PowerSwitch 7000 delivers improved power reliability, helping organisations avoid costly operational disruptions.

Power switching revolution?

The PowerSwitch 7000 is engineered to operate downstream from redundant uninterruptible power supply (UPS) systems in reserve bus and dual-bus power configurations. It ensures uninterrupted power for mission-critical facilities, including colocation and enterprise data centres, by enabling seamless, automatic transitions between independent power sources. The solution supports both single-corded and dual-corded loads, adding an extra layer of protection, while its internally redundant design helps eliminate single points of failure.

“Power protection and reliability are increasingly critical concerns for data centre operators, especially when planning for computing growth,” said Greg Hoge, product management global director at Vertiv. “By combining reliable switching, operational flexibility, maintenance simplicity, and intelligent diagnostics, Vertiv PowerSwitch 7000 sets a high standard for operational excellence in power switching technology for even the most demanding data centre applications.”

The system includes several new serviceability features, such as a compartmentalised structure that isolates high-voltage areas from maintenance zones to enhance operator safety. The front-access setup enables maintenance without service disruption, reducing downtime and preserving continuous power flow. Additional flexible installation options, like top and bottom cable entry, make it suitable for both raised and non-raised floor settings. The design also includes modular Silicon Controlled Rectifiers (SCRs), hot-swappable fan units, and tool-free air filters to ensure efficient servicing and consistent operation.

A 9-inch colour touchscreen control panel mounted on the unit offers advanced waveform capture capabilities. This feature allows the system to act as a diagnostic tool by capturing high-frequency power data during transfer events, which supports detailed root cause analysis. Facility managers can easily monitor system performance locally, while secure remote access is available via the Intellislot RDU120 communication card, which meets UL2900-1 cybersecurity standards.

The PowerSwitch 7000 integrates seamlessly with Vertiv’s range of power management products, such as UPS systems and power distribution units, to deliver a cohesive power protection ecosystem. The solution is backed by Vertiv Global Services, which offers a global team of experts and a full suite of project, lifecycle, and digital services designed to maximise system uptime and performance.

Globeleq signs agreement with Sungrow for Red Sands project. (Image credit: Sungrow)

Independent power producer Globeleq has signed an agreement with China’s Sungrow for a battery energy storage system (BESS) for its 153MW Red Sands project in South Africa

The Red Sands BESS project is part of South Africa's inaugural Battery Energy Storage Independent Power Producer Procurement Programme and is located in the Northern Cape, about 100km southeast of Upington.

It will be the largest standalone battery energy storage system in Africa.

Under the signed term sheet, Sungrow will supply its state-of-the-art PowerTitan 2.0 liquid-cooled energy storage system.

It will also provide comprehensive operations and maintenance services under a 15-year contract, ensuring long-term reliability, efficiency and optimal project performance.

“We are excited to sign the supply and 15-year long-term service agreement term sheets with Sungrow for our 153MW/612MWh Red Sands BESS project in South Africa, the largest standalone battery energy storage project in sub-Saharan Africa to date,” said Paolo de Michelis, Globeleq's head of renewables.

“Developing BESS projects involves navigating complex challenges and requires a strategic long-term commitment from all project partners to ensure the project’s success,” Michelis added.

“Sungrow's track record in South Africa, high-quality technology and competitiveness will be instrumental in overcoming these challenges and delivering a reliable project and stable grid."

Sungrow is a global leading PV inverter and energy storage provider and has installed 740GW of power electronic converters worldwide.

Working closely with leading global battery and balance-of-plant suppliers, Globeleq estimates the project will cost approximately US$300mn and will take 24 months to construct after financial close this year, with operations set to begin in 2027.

Red Sands BESS will use approximately 5 hectares (12 acres) and will connect to the grid through the Eskom Garona substation.

The project is strategically positioned to support South Africa's power system by delivering critical services such as load shifting and grid stabilisation, facilitating the integration of renewable energy sources and addressing ongoing energy supply challenges.

It also builds on the Africa portfolio of Globeleq, owned 70% by British International Investment and 30% by Norfund, which is a leading developer, owner and operator of power generation assets in Africa.

Since 2002, it has built a portfolio of independent power plants, generating 1,794MW in 17 locations across seven countries, with a further 485MW in construction and more than 2,000MW of power projects in development.

Red Sands will be Globeleq’s first largescale BESS project in South Africa where the group also owns and operates eight renewable plants (six solar PV, two wind) with a total generating capacity of 384MW.

It also owns a combined solar and BESS plant at Cuamba in Mozambique and is developing other BESS projects across the African continent.

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