Role of energy storage in a microgrid for increased use of photovoltaic systems in wireless communication networks

This paper explores the design and operation of a dc microgrid formed by a few base stations that is powered primarily from photovoltaic (PV) arrays coupled to batteries. First, the control architecture is described with a focus on the high-level controller. This controller optimizes operation so batteries are not subject to excessive cycling and deep discharges thanks to an integrated management of base station load through a strategy based on traffic shaping. The technique used to control traffic is extensively explained and verified with case studies that are based on systems using configurations expected to be observed in practical applications.