Little Sark in solar telecoms trial

Thursday 16 June 2022

JT's mobile phone coverage in Little Sark is now powered fully by renewable energy.

The company has installed six solar panels as part of a trial which it hopes will lead to renewable energy powering more of its network across the Channel Islands.

The panels, pictured top, were installed by the Little Green Energy Company. They will maintain the batteries which power the antenna that provides JT’s mobile phone coverage in Little Sark. 

The panels are located next to the small mobile radio site on Little Sark, using equipment designed to run in remote areas not connected to the grid.

Joseph Donovan, Private Circuit Project Manager at HT, said: "Operating in Sark provides its own challenges, so it’s the perfect place for JT to test equipment that needs to work with minimal intervention and maintenance.

"This trial will provide an opportunity for our engineers to gauge how well our network will handle calls and data using 100% renewable energy.

"The mobile site will use the electricity grid to provide the initial charge of the batteries, but after that it’s the power of the sun that will keep those charged up and working, day and night."

Pictured: JT said that its mobile operations in Little Sark were ideal for a trial which it hopes could lead to big reductions in its carbon emissions across the Channel Islands. 

Tom Noel, JT's Director of Corporate Affairs and Sustainability, said: "We have set out to make significant reductions in the amount of carbon emissions our activities generate.

"Everything we do, from decisions made by JT’s Board to the vehicles our engineers drive, must fit into the strategic goals we have set to become carbon neutral.

"Our renewable energy initiatives will make a real difference and we are proud to be backing this project in Sark to reduce emissions and our carbon footprint.

"We’re really hoping that during the summer it will run 100% of the time on solar power, providing a greener way to run our network in Sark."