Our first deployment into the telecoms sector has been with Vodafone, where we successfully combined our wind turbine technology with solar panels and battery storage to create unique self-powering mobile network towers.
As well as generating clean energy, the self-powering masts remove the need for a diesel generator or a connection to the electricity grid. This means it can be located in rural locations, providing connectivity for the UK’s ‘not-spots’, in even the most remote and isolated areas.
In June 2022, Vodafone switched on the first ever self-powered mast in Pembrokeshire, South Wales, propelling it on its journey to achieve Net Zero for its UK operations by 2027. The ambition is for Crossflow’s Eco Tower to play a major role in Vodafone and the Shared Rural Network achieving 4G coverage across 95 percent of the UK by the end of 2025.
There are estimated to be five million communication towers across the world, with significant expansion rates for supporting digital connectivity. In many cases, they are located in areas of good wind and solar resource. As such, we’re looking to utilise our experience with Vodafone, and continue to build or name within the telecoms and ICT sector.
Wind power is becoming as mainstream for generating clean energy as solar, and those businesses that realise now will reap the rewards, just like Vodafone has done.
