iPowerCube: Off-grid, Diesel-free Power Supply for Hebao Island, Zhuhai

Huawei iPowerCube power supply on Hebao Island, Zhuhai

On the southern coast of China, lays Hebao island, characterized by fine sand and clear water. It is here that a vessel traffic service (VTS) station has been built to support orderly, safe navigation and to protect the ocean environment.

As the island is far away from cities and towns, a mains power supply is impossible. The VTS station used to be powered by a pair of diesel generators and an uninterruptible power supply (UPS), but this was noisy and energy-inefficient. Every year, it generated about 25 tons of carbon emissions, which put extra pressure on the already fragile island environment. Later, the station switched to a power solution that combined an off-grid PV system, one diesel generator, UPS, and a lead-acid battery, but problems occurred frequently. The solution had a high failure rate and poor reliability.

In 2020, Huawei conducted a field survey and found that Hebao Island has sufficient sunlight to deploy our iPowerCube off-grid, diesel-free power supply solution. This solution combines solar power and an intelligent lithium battery, replacing the complex old solution. iPowerCube ensures uninterrupted, reliable power supply 24 hours a day, seven days a week. The solution has helped the Zhuhai VTS station save CNY220,000 in fuel costs every year and achieve zero carbon emissions, contributing to a greener environment at Hebao Island.