Clean Power Systems (CPS) has developed a unique process methodology for implementation, from initial custom design, through implementation of power solutions to meet the specific requirements of individual shared cell sites. Utilizing the CPS methodology and related tools, CPS can effectively plan for scaled rollout or upgrade to hundreds or thousands of sites. If you find this article useful, please register to join the CPS round table debate on this topic at the TowerXchange Meetup on October 1 and 2.
TowerXchange: How do you determine the optimal power solution for a cell site?
Bill Bubenicek, Managing Director, CPS:
When towercos acquire new sites, one of the first things they do is conduct site survey. When CPS acquires a contract for power systems, our first step is a power audit.
In order to effectively design an intelligent power system for any particular site, CPS utilizes a power audit survey that captures 50-60 key data points. These data points are critical to our ability to effectively design the optimal power system per site and to plan out the full implementation of the system to any given site. Examples of data points would include, total site load, AC vs. DC load, Generator type, output, de-rating and environmental factors from the site.
Once we’ve conducted the initial power audit survey of a site, it gives us all of the necessary data points to effectively plan for design and implementation. A significant factor to consider here is in the site preparation. The site’s ability to accept the system is as important as the system itself. Examples of this may include optimizing the existing air conditioners on site, or assuring the Auto Voltage Switch is working properly. Once this is complete, CPS advises the customer of required site prep work including civil works such as cable ducts, equipment removals and concrete slabs as required by the site.
An intelligent power system must be installed in an environment that can accept and protect the system if the customer is going to fully realize all potential benefits. Looking forward, the design also must take into account the complexity of potentially adding additional tenants to the site, without creating inefficiencies based on the existing number of tenants.
TowerXchange: How does CPS’s methodology for surveying sites differ from what had been done previously?
Bill Bubenicek, Managing Director, CPS:
Previously data was captured through a hand-written survey, often partially completed and manually entered into Excel based on someone’s best interpretation of the handwriting. You would often find that the details presented to the energy equipment vendor were inaccurate. This would lead to the scope of work being inaccurate, compounded by failure to properly prepare the site, and ultimately leading to failed installations, repeat visits and spiraling installation costs amounting to two or three times the budget.
CPS has developed its own methodology and process to follow. We’ve built the business model and the necessary tools to update and scale site surveys, whether you’re looking at 10 sites or 1000. Our system automatically generates the optimal design for site, scoping the Bill of Quantities, Bill of Materials for ancillaries, purchase orders et cetera.
Using our methodology, when the customer places an order for power systems, typically on a 6-8 week lead time, we are able to concurrently begin preparing the site, using the scope of work defined by our survey tool. So whilst the power equipment order is being fulfilled, we concurrently issue contracts for civil works, order and receive the required installation materials so that plinths and cable ducts can be installed and air conditioning and site load adjustments can be made by the time the equipment arrives. The scope of installation works must be contained. With our methodology installation is simply a case of hooking up cables and commissioning the site, allowing the customer the ability to contain scope and budget.
We also complete the necessary training and certification of the sub-contractors during each phase of the implementation.
TowerXchange: Do you need to adjust any parameters in the software when you move from one country to the next?
Bill Bubenicek, Managing Director, CPS:
No, it’s all automated when you move from one country to another, adjusting to local fuel pricing, maximum ambient temperature in that region et cetera.
TowerXchange: And you’ve made optimum site design scalable across thousands of sites...
Bill Bubenicek, Managing Director, CPS:
Yes. Our methodology takes the guesswork out of bespoke site design. We’ve made it scalable by automating the logic that previously existed in the minds of a small group of experienced power system and site design experts.
TowerXchange: It sounds like a great methodology, could you tell our readers where your approach comes from and how it’s been proven to work in Africa?
Bill Bubenicek, Managing Director, CPS:
We developed the methodology through our work with towercos in Uganda and Ghana.
Our towerco customers knew they had a lot of partners to train, and lots to change at their sites. We are project management focused as a company and the methodologies have been built around a project management mindset. When contractors have a precisely defined scope of work, and they know the installation team will only have to visit each site once, there is no need to price contingencies into the quote.
TowerXchange: How does CPS support the training requirements of tower operators and their contractors?
Bill Bubenicek, Managing Director, CPS:
Our role doesn’t end with data capture, site preparation and implementation. As part of the implementation methodology, CPS provides a comprehensive training and certification of installation and O&M technicians. All contracting firms know how to put a diesel generator on a site, but fewer installation and maintenance engineers are as familiar with hybrid power systems, or intelligent AVR systems, so this is literally a paradigm shift for the industry.
O&M and refueling partners must be trained on the new systems, otherwise we’ve seen situations where field technicians who are used to hearing the DG running when the site is live, and who hear nothing from the new hybrid systems, manually override to turn on the DG unnecessarily!
The people who have been through CPS’s training programmes tell us they have never had anything like this - it’s something they can really be proud of on their CV.
Certification also enables us to control system integrity. For example, our warranty only applies as long as only certified people work on the system.
TowerXchange: Tell us about the change management implications of installing hybrid energy.
Bill Bubenicek, Managing Director, CPS:
Optimising energy OPEX isn’t just about installing hybrid energy systems or intelligent AVR’s - it’s about aligning the interests and processes of O&M, fuelling and security subcontractors. Cell site energy is a developing ecosystem, and initially refueling companies aren’t pleased to see hybrid energy companies coming in and reducing diesel consumption.
We’ve seen some progressive initiatives to align interests within the diesel supply chain and get everyone pulling in the same direction. For example, one of the towercos we’ve worked with has back to backed their SLA to their O&M contractor in order to pass on responsibility for the diesel spend incurred during brownouts. Avoiding SLA penalties motivates that contractor to apply pressure to the electricity utility to resolve the brownouts and improve grid reliability. With interests aligned, the contractor now wants our AVR - Stability Series equipment installed to work to avoid diesel fuel penalties.
TowerXchange: Are remote monitoring sensors contributing to your data gathering?
Bill Bubenicek, Managing Director, CPS:
Existing remote monitoring systems aren’t really collecting the right data for our power audits - they mostly provide alarms by SMS to trigger corrective maintenance actions. Our Power systems come with built-in RMS capabilities, although we call it remote performance monitoring, because our system enables tower operators to see performance statistics such as the load drawn by air conditioning units or the energy consumption of each individual tenant’s equipment, enabling tower operators to generate reports that backup performance and quantify RoI.
Towercos can then compile a full network analysis on what’s being saved with click of a mouse, and in many cases, can also configure systems and make power decisions remotely without the need to visit sites.
TowerXchange: How do you measure success in terms of managing assets to optimise MTTF (Mean Time To Failure)?
Bill Bubenicek, Managing Director, CPS:
Once our power systems are specified and installed, we tie them into our Remote Performance Monitoring System, integrate with data from existing RMS systems, and feed alarms into the NOC and to O&M partners.
Using qualified engineers proven through our training programme and adhering to our standard preventative maintenance schedule should ensure MTTF KPIs are achieved.
We typically sell a small advanced supply of commonly required spare parts, which can be utilized in the few isolated cases where warranties need to be exercised. In the case of one of our customers, the subcontractor handles spare parts under a Vendor Managed Inventory (VMI) scheme in Uganda. CPS has a project management presence in each country to ensure a better relationship with subcontractors, and to align our customers and partners.
TowerXchange: Finally, could you sum up how CPS adds value to the tower industry.
Bill Bubenicek, Managing Director, CPS:
The CPS value add goes beyond being an equipment manufacturer or systems integrator - rather, we are working to become more technology agnostic as we move our focus towards effective design and implementation of intelligent power systems. Our value add is in our consistent work towards creating the industry standard for power optimization in mobile networks, utilizing intelligent power systems.
The technology itself is less frequently the differentiator now that hybrid solutions, solar and AVR systems are proven from a technical perspective. So technology is less relevant to success. Its all about implementation.
CPS have developed a proven methodology for implementation, as well as the tools to deliver. By utilizing CPS tools, software and our training programme, the end customer is better equipped to realize the full benefits that these systems have to offer the market.
CPS will host a round table discussion on ’how to effectively implement intelligent power systems’ at the TowerXchange Meetup on October 1 and 2 in Johannesburg. Apply for your pass at this unqiue gathering of the top 200 decision makers in African towers!
