As emerging technologies such as 5G, Internet of Things (IoT), cloud computing, 
and artificial intelligence (AI) are rapidly commercialized, the digital 
transformation in various industries is getting prospering. The epidemic and 
carbon neutrality goals further accelerate the transformation towards a smart 
society. What does it mean to the site power? What will happen if the energy 
technologies are combined with the power electronics technologies and digital 
technologies?

To answer these questions, Peng Jianhua, President of Huawei Site Power 
Facility Domain, together with industry guests, discussed the technology and 
industry trends and predicted the ten trends in the site power domain. The ten 
trends are released to provide clues of development directions and innovation 
for the industry and help build a better future.

Trend 1: Power Digitalization

The full power link from power generation, conversion, storage, to use will be 
digitalized. The entire energy network will change from the traditional watt 
flow to watt+bit collaboration, driving the digital transformation of site 
power from points, chains, and networks with the concept of Bit Manage Watt. 
The convergence of digital technologies and energy technologies will make 
energy networks visible, manageable, controllable, and optimizable.

To this end, Huawei explores a three-layer energy target network from the 
components, site, to network to help customers build a simple, intelligent, 
green, and reliable energy target network and meet the new energy development 
requirements in the future.

Trend 2: "Zero-Carbon" Network

Green and sustainable development is a global campaign. Clean energy 
application and energy saving have become the mainstream around the world. In 
the future, the full link of power generation, load consumption, and power 
conversion and storage will be green, efficient, and energy-saving. From the 
top-level network planning and design, construction and capacity expansion, to 
the reconstruction and optimization, digital O&M and energy efficiency 
management, and zero-carbon evaluation, a zero-carbon network will be realized 
through the integration of power electronics, digital, and AI technologies. The 
rapid development of core technologies, high-efficiency technologies, and 
digital technologies also makes zero-carbon networks possible. Energy-related 
OPEX for carrier networks will not increase after adding 5G, greatly reducing 
CAPEX. Carbon emissions of networks will be cleared through simplified network 
construction, intelligent O&M, and full-lifecycle management of energy networks.

In Green Island, Greece, Huawei helps a carrier reduce carbon emissions by 10 
tons per site per year by intelligent solar access. In Pakistan, Huawei uses 
advanced hybrid power supply to replace diesel generators, reducing carbon 
emissions by 18 tons per site per year.

Trend 3: Lithium for All

Thanks to its long lifespan and continuous technology development, lithium 
batteries gradually replace lead-acid batteries in large-scale application in 
various industries around the world. Batteries that solely serve as emergency 
backup power can no longer meet diversified requirements in various scenarios. 
They are hoped to become a comprehensive energy supply. Common lithium 
batteries provide only a single function. After the power electronics and 
digital technologies are combined, the local BMS and cloud BMS will collaborate 
with each other. With the help of AI and big data technologies, common lithium 
batteries will become intelligent and cloud-based. From a single component to a 
cloud-based smart energy storage system, lithium batteries will be safer, 
applicable to more scenarios, and with more efficient O&M, maximizing the value 
of site energy storage.

Following the intelligent lithium battery, Huawei launched the fifth-generation 
CloudLi solution, which redefines the architecture of lithium batteries in the 
new era. The solution features full-scenario connection, simplified cloud 
maintenance, AI-based integrated energy storage, precise configuration, and 
proactive security management. This solution will sure bring more benefits to 
customers.

Trend 4: Telecom Site to Social Site

5G has entered different industries. As a result, a large number of digital 
sites are emerging. Varied scenarios require more flexible and diversified 
sites. Traditional sites with the single function of communication connection 
will evolve to social sites with comprehensive functions, maximizing the site 
value.

In Northern Africa, Huawei launched the innovative eMIMO solution, a unified 
energy platform that supports multiple input and output modes. This solution 
helps traditional site infrastructure with a single function transform to one 
with comprehensive energy services. Site power facilities also supply power to 
small-scale retail stores and police stations in villages.

In Iraq, Huawei power systems for communications equipment also supply power to 
nearby residents in exchange for free rental and security protection, helping 
the tower company save an average of US$3000 to 8000 per site per year and 
reduce site security costs.

Trend 5: Energy Supply Diversification

The diversification of energy supply is embodied in three aspects: First, the 
diversification of power supply sources. New energy, especially solar energy, 
will gradually shift from supplementary to primary. In addition, more power 
supply solutions with optimal configurations will be available thanks to the 
combination of new energy with mains and energy storage system. Second, the 
diversification of application scenarios. Site power is no longer just the 
power source of IT or CT equipment. Instead, it changes to ICT converged power 
supply and begins to power people's livelihood and production. Third, the 
diversification of deployment modes. In the future, site power can be deployed 
in multiple modes. For example, centralized solar power plant, campus power 
supply and small-sized micro-grid power supply, distributed power supply and 
hybrid power supply, and household PV power supply. Power facility deployment 
will change from centralized to centralized+distributed mode to meet different 
application requirements.

In Ethiopia, Huawei used the advanced solar energy, energy storage, and diesel 
generator hybrid solution to save 12.26 million liters of fuel for 
communications sites, saving US$20,000 in fuel costs and reducing carbon 
emissions by 26.2 tons. In Nigeria, distributed off-grid micro power plants 
were used to reduce the cost per kWh from US$0.5 to US$0.2. The power system 
provides stable power supply for the local area around the clock.

Trend 6: Full Link Intelligence

With the gradual digital transformation of the energy industry, the traditional 
siloed architecture and isolated management of energy subsystems will evolve 
towards integrated smart energy. The software-defined subsystems for power 
generation, conversion, storage, distribution, consumption, and temperature 
control will use AI algorithms to achieve full-link collaboration and optimal 
power supply systems.

In Zhejiang province of China, Huawei cooperates with China Tower to reduce the 
site power consumption by 17.1% through the AI-based peak staggering function, 
helping the customer reduce the electricity fee by CNY1788 per site per year.

Trend 7: Simple and Convergent

As a large number of sites will be deployed, IT and CT services are further 
integrated at one site and the power supply and battery will be combined. The 
AC and DC power modes are integrated in one power supply. Therefore, multiple 
power systems will become one. Sites will evolve from equipment rooms to 
cabinets and poles, reducing the footprint and power consumption. The site 
power efficiency will be further improved and the electricity fee will also 
decrease, achieving low carbon emission throughout the entire network and 
realizing simplified power supply during the lifecycle.

In Mexico, Huawei launched the iSuperSite solution, which supports 
ultra-high-density and large-capacity power supply and equipment housing. This 
solution uses cabinets to replace rooms and integrates IT and CT power supplies 
into one to reduce site deployment costs and shorten the deployment period. It 
can reduce power consumption and save rents, achieving optimal TCO.

Trend 8: Multi-mode Architecture

With the diversification of energy supply and equipment types, site power will 
develop towards a multi-mode coordinated architecture. The system architecture 
will support multiple energy input and output modes, multi-mode scheduling 
control and management. The system will evolve by modular overlay. One power 
supply system applies to multiple scenarios and realizes converged power supply 
for different services and devices.

With Huawei's innovative and unified eMIMO power supply architecture, one power 
supply system (platform) supports multiple input and output modes, meeting the 
power requirements of different equipment in various industries such as 
communications, transportation, and electric power.

Trend 9: Autonomous Driving

Autonomous driving is the development theme of site power in the future. First, 
the application of AI technologies will simplify energy O&M, implement remote 
O&M, self-learning, and automatic O&M, and improve O&M quality and efficiency. 
Second, the intelligent IoT connection technologies and intelligent sensing 
technologies will enable digital management of site power. The original 
management of dumb devices will be eliminated. With digital sensors and the 
intelligent management platform, all components and devices in the energy 
network can be sensed and interconnected.      

In Zhejiang Province, Huawei uses the AI-powered intelligent load power-off 
slicing technology to ensure power supply to important services and ensure zero 
site breakdown during the epidemic. During the epidemic, the remote battery 
inspection function of Huawei intelligent sites reduces manual site visits. The 
battery test precision is also improved, reducing the site visit cost by 
US$200/year for a single site.

Trend 10: Safe and Reliable

The surge of data volumes spurs the network, digital, and intelligent 
transformation in the energy industry. Therefore, the reliability, security, 
privacy, and resilience of hardware and software become necessary requirements.

Huawei's power products feature high security and reliability design of 
software and hardware. In addition to high-reliability design and 
manufacturing, predictive maintenance is supported at the hardware side to 
consolidate the reliable foundation. In terms of software, layered control and 
defense functions are added to software, making the energy industry more safe 
and reliable.

Deep insights into the industry trends help enterprises to better adapt to 
future challenges. By releasing the ten trends, Huawei Site Power aims to 
provide guidance for technology and industry development as well as industry 
digitization, help build a greener and better connected world, and bridge the 
energy divide. In the future, Huawei Site Power will continue to adhere to 
openness and cooperation and work with industry customers, partners, and 
third-party organizations to promote innovations and achieve win-win outcomes 
in the digital power era.

Source: Huawei

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   Caption: Technology and Industry Trend: Huawei Launch Top Ten Trends of Site 
Power

   Link: https://iop.asianetnews.net/view-attachment?attach-id=383533

   Caption: Peng Jianhua, President of Huawei Site Power Facility Domain

   Link: https://iop.asianetnews.net/view-attachment?attach-id=383534

   Caption: Online release of the top ten trends by Peng Jianhua