HOME / power consumption analysis of a 5g nr base transceiver
The energy consumption of the fifth generation (5G) of mobile networks is one of the major concerns of the telecom industry. However, there is not currently an accurate and tractable approach to evaluate 5G base stations' (BSs') power consumption.
The power consumption of a single 5G station is 2.5 to 3.5 times higher than that of a single 4G station. The main factor behind this increase in 5G power consumption is the high power usage of the active antenna unit (AAU). Under a full workload, a single station uses nearly 3700W.
Although the absolute value of the power consumption of 5G base stations is increasing, their energy efficiency ratio is much lower than that of 4G stations. In other words, with the same power consumption, the network capacity of 5G will be as dozens of times larger than 4G, so the power consumption per bit is sharply reduced.
The main factor behind this increase in 5G power consumption is the high power usage of the active antenna unit (AAU). Under a full workload, a single station uses nearly 3700W. This necessitates a number of updates to existing networks, such as more powerful supplies and increased performance output from supporting facilities.
The data suggest that the turbine consumes at a minimum rate of about 50 kW, or 8.3% of its reported production over those years (which declined 2-4% each year). There is also the matter of reactive power (VAR). As wind facilities are typically built in remote areas, they are often called upon to provide VAR to maintain line voltage.
The largest energy consumer in the BS is the power amplifier, which has a share of around 65% of the total energy consumption . Of the other base station elements, significant energy consumers are: air conditioning (17.5%), digital signal processing (10%) and AC/DC conversion elements (7.5%) .
Assuming for simplicity equal energy consumption for each month during a year, total yearly energy consumption of this BS site is 64,171.2 kW. The operator has approximately 2,000 installed BS sites and average energy consumption per site is approximately 60% of monthly/yearly consumption of the analyzed BS site.
The real data in terms of the power consumption and traffic load have been obtained from continuous measurements performed on a fully operated base station site. Measurements show the existence of a direct relationship between base station traffic load and power consumption.
Base stations are the backbone of wireless networks, facilitating communication between mobile devices and the network infrastructure. In LTE (Long Term Evolution) networks, these base stations are known as eNodeBs (evolved Node Bs), while in 5G networks, they are referred to as gNodeBs (next-generation Node Bs).
5G networks divide coverage areas into smaller zones called cells, enabling devices to connect to local base stations via radio. Each station connects to the broader telephone network and the Internet through high-speed optical fiber or wireless backhaul.
5G Base Stations: Compared to 4G base stations, 5G brings higher data throughput and power density, significantly increasing heat generation. Therefore, the performance requirements for thermal materials are much higher. ● Small/Micro Base Stations: These base stations are compact, with limited space, making thermal design more challenging.
In particular, the 5G base station significantly requires more energy compared to the 4G system, especially when higher frequencies are in action. Due to the very short range of millimeter waves, several stations are required for getting complete coverage. This in turn, increases the overall energy consumption.
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