Towards Energy Neutral Wireless Communications: Photovoltaic Cells to Connect Remote Areas

Das Das,Poves Poves,Sparks Sparks,Haas Haas,Fakidis Fakidis,Videv Videv

doi:10.3390/en12193772

Abstract

In this work, we have designed, developed and deployed the world’s first optical wireless communication (OWC) system using off-the-shelf lasers and solar photovoltaics. Four bidirectional OWC prototypes have been installed on the Orkney Islands of Scotland at a 30 m link distance for the provision of high-speed internet access to two residential properties. The silicon-made solar panels can harvest power up to 5 W from sunlight and they offer data rates as high as 8 Mb/s. Using additional analogue processing, data rates higher than the existing landline broadband connection are achieved. This breakthrough opens the development path to low cost, self-powered and plug-and-play free-space optical (FSO) systems.

Highlights

Optical wireless communications (OWC) have been widely accepted as a technology with the potential to meet the ever-increasing demand in network capacity [1]
The performance of of an optical detector may be defined by the following characteristics: an optical detector may be defined by the following characteristics:
The developed optical wireless communication (OWC) system was first deployed on the premises of the University of Edinburgh to test the communication performance under different daylight and weather conditions

Summary

Introduction

Optical wireless communications (OWC) have been widely accepted as a technology with the potential to meet the ever-increasing demand in network capacity [1]. The most common type of receivers used are positive-intrinsic-negative (PIN) and avalanche PDs due to their high-bandwidth and linear photodetection. These photodetectors require an external power source in order to operate. In order to design a suitable receiver with the silicon solar panel, it is necessary to determine. In order to design a suitable receiver with the silicon solar panel, it is necessary to determine important optical detector characteristics and choose the right type of solar panel. The performance important optical detector characteristics and choose the right type of solar panel. The performance of of an optical detector may be defined by the following characteristics: an optical detector may be defined by the following characteristics:

Methods

Results

Conclusion