GPT’s Visit to the ENTELEC Conference & Expo
GPT’s visit to the 2023 ENTELEC Conference & Expo confirms that there is a need for more reliable off-grid power for communications. Demand for robust power for communications is accelerating due to the increasing adoption of IoT and evolving requirements for redundant power on existing solar-only systems. Recent power outages during storms in the Gulf Coast region highlighted the need for ultra-reliable, 20-year design life power provided by Thermo Electric Generators (TEGs).
Clients and prospects identified three major trends that are driving interest in TEGs to solve their solar power system challenges. First, area-wide weather events that take down many solar systems simultaneously require a massive “all hands on deck” effort to restore solar battery banks. This huge effort puts a strain on limited technician support whose only option is to deploy portable generators, tanked fuel, and/or battery replacements in a short period of time to try to recover operations until better weather returns. The inability to replace batteries across large operations can cause power loss leading to lost revenues and higher operating costs to restart operations. TEGs placed onsite, with remote start modules to turn on the TEG at the exact moment that the batteries are struggling, can solve this problem for operators. Telecom operators identified tanked-propane-fueled TEGs as a competitive option to backup critical cell towers or point-to-point microwave towers requiring reliable backup power.
Second, field battery replacements are putting technicians at an increased risk of back injury. Frequent battery swaps, especially during a multi-day weather event, have increased sick days and back injuries, which causes knock-on problems to resume operations after the weather events. Customers have reported a significant reduction in “lost days” due to injuries by installing TEGs on existing solar-only well pads because there are fewer battery failures and extended battery life in these systems.
Third, TEGs combust methane gas to 99.995 destruction so they have no negative methane emissions. A 100W TEG operating continuously for a full year produces 1/3 the carbon footprint of a single human, while tripling the life of batteries at the site (reducing earth-damaging demands for nickel and lead) and eliminating multiple truck rolls for solar and battery maintenance per site per year.
Coincident with reducing greenhouse gas emissions, operators are looking to our super reliable MX generator to provide power for air compression systems. These air compressors replace methane in pneumatically actuated valves typically found in gas wells. The MX provides 6 kVA of power, either 3PH 208V and 1PH 240V or 120V to air compression systems to completely eliminate methane emissions from pneumatic venting. The Quad O compliant MX GENSET produces far fewer emissions and much lower fuel consumption than a comparable Stirling engine solution at a lower price point. The super-reliable, 3-cylinder design enhances reliability while minimizing maintenance requirements. Simple annual maintenance can be performed by any small engine mechanic, making this the most desirable combination of power, cost, fuel conservation, and reliability.
