The Off-Grid Opportunity with New Primary Power Fuel Cells

A little over four months ago, I experienced something unusual for me. I read about a business and technology that stirred me – something that excited me so much that I was motivated to make contact with them. From a professional perspective, this hadn’t happened to me before.

Yes, like most people I’ve had many jobs and within many businesses. But, on this occasion, I wasn’t looking for a new challenge. I was very happy and comfortable within my role at a leading telecoms company.

But, in reading about GenCell, a fuel cell manufacturer, its vision really struck a chord with me. Fortunately, I had the opportunity to sit down with its CEO, Rami Reshef. We quickly realized that we shared a similar view for how some of industry’s biggest pain points could be solved with such a technology. I was then lucky enough to be appointed as the Head of the new Business Unit.

So, what was it that I saw in this business that lit my fire? Yes, with my telecoms background, I could instantly see a huge business opportunity – they offer 100% clean, cost effective and reliable back-up power for Telecom Towers. And power reliability is a huge challenge for this market.

But, it wasn’t just this. Rami’s vision for our business is much, much broader. In part, it’s encapsulated in the new slogan, ‘Power for humanity’. What does this mean? It means, for the first time, fuel cell technology as an affordable off-grid primary power source for more than 1.1 billion people who face severe disadvantages in education, economic development, health and quality of life. Until now, diesel generators have been the only realistic alternative. Whether that be for businesses requiring robust power in areas of extreme weather or for remote villages with no access to reliable electricity – quite simply, life changing energy.

And now I’m on the inside, I know that this isn’t just clever marketing either.

It’s now been two months since I joined the Israel-based fuel cell manufacturer and I’ve done a lot of travelling, attending lots of meetings and events. Two of those events were Mobile World Congress 2018 and the TowerXchange Meetup Europe. As always, these were excellent for not only networking, but for soaking-up the trends and issues facing the telecoms market today.

And there are many of those. But clearly, the roll-out of 5G is possibly the largest due to its significance to the way we live our lives and the future of internet access and data connectivity. I was particularly struck by how many conversations centered around reliable network coverage for consumers and cost-effective power to provide it.

In reading about GenCell some four months ago, this is what initially piqued my interest. I could instantly see a big market problem and a strong technology solution. However, what really excited me was Rami’s teaser for its primary power solution that would extend these benefits yet further.

And in the events I attended and the conversations I had, the big discussion was always around how to reduce telecom towers’ biggest expenditure - energy costs. And for rural or off-grid towers, the issue of identifying a mainstream power solution that could solve the OPEX issues associated with diesel generators or provide primary power for towers in areas where low or no mobile connectivity is currently available.

I now know that GenCell’s personnel of ex-NASA and Soviet scientists have been working on this challenge for many years. And as Rami had eluded to in the magazine article, the business is now ready to launch its primary fuel cell solution to meet these issues head-on – unlocking a wealth of opportunities for Towercos and Telecoms providers, but also for people in underdeveloped areas or remote communities around the world.

Of course, time will tell on this, but early indications suggest that market response will be very positive. In reading this, I hope that you too can share some of the excitement that led me to make this career move, and what’s driving our business to make this technology introduction a success. Look out for our launch – #PowerforHumanity.