Can solar power improve China's base station infrastructure?

Traditionally powered by coal-dominated grid electricity, these stations contribute significantly to operational costs and air pollution. This study offers a comprehensive roadmap for low-carbon upgrades to China’s base station infrastructure by integrating solar power, energy storage, and intelligent operation strategies.

Do communication base station operations increase electricity consumption in China?

Comparing data from 2021, 2025, and 2030, 41 we found that the electricity consumption due to communication base station operations in China increased annually.

How many 5G base stations are built in China?

As 5G serves as the foundation for the construction of new infrastructure, China, as the world leader in 5G base station construction, has already built over 1.4 million 5G base stations in 2021 alone. In the same year, 5G base stations in China produced approximately 49.2 million tons of CO 2 eq.

How can wireless access networks reduce energy consumption?

The wireless access network incurs the most significant energy loss, with base station loss being the largest contributor. Consequently, energy-saving and emission reduction measures should primarily focus on reducing the resource demand of base stations (Liu, 2018).

How does a 5G base station consume energy?

In terms of energy consumption, 5G base stations require continuous operation and stability, which leads to significant electricity consumption (Guo et al., 2022a). This power is mainly supplied by transmission equipment and auxiliary equipment, such as transformers, UPS power supplies, and cooling equipment.

Are 5G base stations sustainable?

However, due to their high radio frequency and limited coverage, the construction and operation of 5G base stations can lead to significant energy consumption and greenhouse gas emissions. To address this challenge, scholars have focused on developing sustainable 5G base stations.