Backing Up a Telecom Tower Through Ukraine's Outages — in Ukraine
Project Overview
In response to the chronic instability of Ukraine’s power grid, FFD POWER has deployed a 500kW / 1,044kWh Battery Energy Storage System (BESS) to keep a telecom tower in Kremenchuk online around the clock. The project demonstrates how an outdoor cabinet BESS with a built-in Static Transfer Switch (STS) can deliver seamless backup within 20ms while simultaneously running peak-valley energy arbitrage to cut site operating costs under volatile tariff conditions.
Project Background
Telecom infrastructure across Ukraine continues to operate under sustained pressure from grid instability, rolling blackouts, and elevated industrial electricity tariffs. For tower operators, every minute of downtime translates into lost coverage, service-level penalties, and emergency diesel costs — and even when the grid is up, unpredictable price spikes erode the already thin operating margins of remote sites. The combination has pushed the industry from traditional UPS-plus-diesel architectures toward lithium-based BESS systems that can ride through outages and act as an economic asset during normal operation.
Project Challenge
- Grid Instability: Frequent and unpredictable outages disrupt 24/7 telecom tower operation and threaten network availability.
- Tariff Pressure: High and volatile electricity prices erode site operating margins, making flat-rate consumption economically unsustainable.
- Uninterrupted Power Requirement: The tower requires zero-gap power continuity for extended duration — any transfer delay risks dropped calls and equipment reboots.
- Outdoor Deployment: The system must withstand harsh Ukrainian winters and summer heat in an unmanned, remote-site environment with minimal maintenance access.
FFD POWER Solution
FFD POWER deployed an outdoor cabinet BESS system built from four Galaxy 261 All-in-One cabinets running in parallel, each integrating its own PCS, LFP battery modules, BMS, thermal management, and fire suppression. A Static Transfer Switch (STS) sits at the AC interface to deliver uninterrupted load transfer, while the onboard EMS executes a dual-mode strategy of seamless backup plus TOU peak-valley arbitrage — turning the storage asset into both an insurance policy and a revenue-protecting tool.
System Specifications
- PV installed: Not applicable (grid + BESS configuration)
- BESS Power: 500 kW
- BESS Capacity: 1,044 kWh
- Product used: Galaxy 261 AIO Cabinet × 4 (125 kW / 261 kWh each) with integrated 125kW PCS
- Architecture: Outdoor cabinet BESS with Static Transfer Switch (STS) for sub-20ms grid-to-battery transfer
- Chemistry: LFP (LiFePO4) — long cycle life and high thermal stability for outdoor unmanned sites
- Application: Telecom Tower Backup + Peak-Valley Energy Arbitrage
Operational Logic: Seamless Backup + Peak-Valley Arbitrage
The core innovation lies in how the BESS simultaneously protects uptime and reduces the site’s energy bill:
- Off-Peak Charging: During low-tariff valley hours, the BESS charges from the grid at a controlled rate, building up the 1,044 kWh reservoir at minimum cost.
- Peak-Hour Discharge: When grid tariffs spike, the EMS automatically discharges stored energy to power the tower, shaving the site's exposure to high-price windows and reducing monthly OPEX.
- Seamless Backup via STS: On any grid disturbance or full outage, the Static Transfer Switch transfers the load to the BESS in under 20ms — fast enough that telecom equipment never sees a power gap and stays continuously online.
- Long-Duration Ride-Through: With 1,044 kWh of usable storage, the system supports extended autonomous operation through prolonged outages, eliminating reliance on diesel gensets and on-site refueling logistics.
