Over the lifetime of a television transmitter, 99% of its carbon footprint comes from the power it consumes during its operation. With its revolutionary new design, the TE1 from Rohde & Schwarz reduces the power required up to 40% compared to the average installed base, and all while maintaining quality and coverage in a form which uses intelligent automation to minimize operational and engineering requirements. This factor alone represents a reduction of 40% in energy bills, and for a typical installation of two 34kW transmitters and a 10-year life, that reduces the carbon footprint by more than 3000 tons of CO2.
Businesses are under pressure to reduce operational costs to maintain profitability and lower their carbon emissions. For broadcasters, these two objectives can align: smart investments today can have a major impact on power consumption, which in turn has a major impact on carbon footprint.
For mass audiences watching popular programming – sports and news, for example – over-the-air terrestrial broadcasting is the most efficient way to deliver the signal. To stream a major event like the Superbowl would put a large strain on the internet, because every single viewer requires a one-to-one connection, each with its significant and measurable carbon footprint.
Terrestrial broadcasting, on the other hand, uses the same amount of power regardless of the number of receivers tuned to it. Developing a transmitter that achieves the best possible efficiency in operation, is paramount. As the power consumption is by far the highest element in the operational cost of a transmitter, this will make a major contribution to the broadcaster’s sustainability goals.
Legacy IOT transmitters in operation today have a power efficiency of around 30%. For every kilowatt of radiated RF power, it requires 3.3kW of input power. First-generation solid-state transmitters can have efficiencies as low as 15%.
The new TE1 family is the next generation of transmitter technology from Rohde & Schwarz. By combining the latest components and power amplification design, the TE1 improves efficiency up to 50%. This means that to transmit 1kW of RF power you now only need 2kW of input power.
The new TE1 product range from Rohde & Schwarz embraces the liquid-cooled design and legacy, using proven technology. The result is a closed cooling circuit which carries the heat from the electronics cabinets and then vents it outside, greatly reducing the amount of air conditioning required.
Thanks to the improved design, by adding the savings in air conditioning to the savings in power consumption, users can expect to see an even higher reduction in carbon footprint and bills over current installations.
Slashing power consumption has a direct impact on a broadcaster’s business, and at the same time it achieves a valuable reduction in carbon emissions. Since sustainability is a top legal priority and a social responsibility for business, this is an invaluable boost.
