HCI Energy, LLC., a renewable energy provider for telecom, broadband, and public safety, combines the latest in power management technology by harnessing renewable power generation at the core of its solutions. HCI’s products are designed to ensure round-the-clock, uninterrupted power that lowers operational costs while enabling critical infrastructure supporting connectivity and community operations.
“The use of renewables for power and critical backup power is being driven by the ‘greening’ of the industry,” Heather Wilkins, Vice President & Chief Commercial Officer at HCI Energy told Inside Towers. “ESG (environmental, social, and governance) initiatives, along with a broader focus on sustainable products, are making wireless infrastructure companies, as well as MNOs, look at better ways to provide stable power and uninterrupted back-up power to their sites.”
In 2016, Ray Ansari, CEO, Hybrid Communications Inc., began HCI Energy in Kansas City, Missouri, and performed the research and development that led to the Hybrid Power Cube. The technology provides continuous, turnkey, eco-friendly power for critical missions supporting telecom, broadband and public safety. Ansari is now on the Board of Directors.
In 2023, Wilkins was named Vice President and Chief Commercial Officer. Wilkins’ mission is to drive partnerships and oversee sales and marketing efforts, bringing HCI Energy’s solutions to critical infrastructure even in the most remote and rugged locations. The company has since expanded the technical team, solidified its product design, and implemented lean manufacturing techniques. These introduced operational efficiencies, expedited engineering, streamlined production, increased quality/reliability, and aim to meet and exceed customer delivery and performance expectations.
HCI’s combination of solar, wind, and advanced battery storage have found applications in providing both mission-critical continuous power to on-grid and off-grid sites, but also backup to cell towers and other infrastructure during an emergency or a disaster situation.
“Rather than hardening communications sites using generators, HCI Energy uses green technology combined with their proprietary management system (ZPM) to solve the problem of providing backup power,” Wilkins said. “In addition, for locations that don’t have commercial power today, we enable them to be deployed anywhere with continuous, reliable power now versus waiting for commercial power to come to extremely rugged and remote locations many of which would otherwise be cost prohibitive.”
HCI Energy introduction video as seen on PBS My World Too
Powerful Solutions
Today, HCI Energy has two distinct product lines, the Hybrid Power Shelter and the Integrated Power Management System, aka the Zero-glitch Power Module™ (ZPM). The Hybrid Power Shelter provides ultra-reliable power on-grid, off-grid, or even pre-grid, accessing multiple renewable energy sources to keep its storage systems optimally charged.
At the heart of every power shelter is the ZPM. This power management system is a robust and high-reliability combination, which not only provides Uninterrupted Power Source-like capabilities, but also integrates renewable energy and monitors and manages outages for customers to eliminate downtime. Additionally, the ZPM can be sold as a standalone product to integrate and manage energy sources and has been widely integrated as many public safety entities update their networks.
“The goal of the system is to make sure that the generator runs as little as possible,” Wilkins said. “Instead of running off of fuel, you’re running off of sustainable sources from our advanced storage system. It also has state-of-the-art monitoring capabilities to provide customer alerts when the system hasn’t produced and stored enough green energy and the generator fuel might be running low.”
HCI Energy approaches backup power with a similar mindset to providing power in general. “How can we do that in a way that is more sustainable and eco-friendly?” Wilkins asked. “What makes HCI Energy different is our solution can work on-grid, off-grid and pre-grid, to provide all people reliable sustainable access to power. In any of those situations, the mission is still to source power from renewable sources first.”
Making a Difference
When the worst storm in decades hit western Alaska, HCI Energy made a very tangible difference in the lives of the indigenous people of the remote village of Unalakleet. Powered by HCI Energy’s Hybrid Power Shelter™, Alaska Tribal Broadband was able to maintain crucial internet connectivity as a typhoon brought high winds, flooding up to 11 feet, floating debris and power outages to the village.
Just weeks before the storm, Alaska Tribal Broadband had installed a turnkey Hybrid Power Shelter™, which houses the broadband company’s satellite telecommunications and electronics equipment combined with HCI’s ZPM™ power backup system. The Hybrid Power Shelter™ arrived on site, fully equipped and ready to be installed with the broadband telecom equipment to connect to the OneWeb LEO Satellite network.
Harold Johnston, Founder and President of Alaska Tribal Broadband, explained, “Being able to house our telecom gear and critical power backup in a rugged, climate-controlled and secure structure was exactly what we needed to keep essential communications flowing for the Unalakleet villagers.”
In March, 2024, HCI Energy was honored with a top industry innovation award judged by the World Bank, Red Cross and FEMA at the Disasters Expo USA in Miami. As one of five nominees in the Cost-Effective Mitigation Product category, HCI Energy was recognized for providing integrated renewable solutions that not only help post-disaster but can be leveraged as a preventative solution and as part of a recovery fleet.
A Renewable Future
HCI Energy supports a sustainable future where all people have reliable access to power and connection. While regulations have driven the wireless infrastructure industry to focus on hardening sites, the latest focus on net zero emissions goals is changing the way companies look at more sustainable and eco-friendly operations.
“In the future, renewables will be integrated into all power systems,” Wilkins said. “As a result, HCI Energy is well positioned to provide those renewable energy sources.”
HCI Energy has units deployed across the U.S., Canada, the Caribbean and Africa. While its current focus is North America, with expansion of production and manufacturing capabilities, the company’s goal is to see HCI’s systems powering critical needs everywhere in the world.
To learn more about how renewable energy can be integrated into your communications sites, visit HCI Energy’s booths at APCO, ConnectX, RE+, and WISPAPALOOZA’24. More information is available online at https://www.hcienergy.com/ or you can reach out to the HCI team at powered@hcienergy.com.
By J. Sharpe Smith, Inside Towers Technology Editor
Reader Interactions