Alcatel-Lucent said Tuesday that it has commenced operations at its alternative energy laboratory and pilot site that are dedicated solely to the telecoms sector.

The pilot site, situated in Villarceaux, France, comprises of a wireless base station powered by a hybrid system of solar panels and wind turbines, but not dependent on the electrical grid.

Meanwhile, the laboratory section is also working on other energy sources, like fuel cells and bio-fuels.

Commenting on the new site, Rich Garafola, director of Sustainable Power solutions at Alcatel-Lucent, said, “The site offers Alcatel-Lucent and its customers and its industrial, institutional and academic partners, the ability to analyze, test and validate the solutions proposed by the dynamic, but fragmented, alternative energy sector. It is also a center for people within the company and outside to discuss and try out new ideas to bring the world of telecoms and that of alternative energy closer together.”

Additionally, the scientists and researchers squad based at the lab also will also research technologies that will enable operators serving developed areas to render the current base stations with alternative energy solutions, henceforth slashing their carbon emission and facilitating reduction in network operating costs while protecting the environment.

Situated along its Bell Labs research site in Villarceaux, France, the station is a part of an Alternative Energy strategic program launched by the company to address the multiplying demand from wireless operators for energy-autonomous and green wireless networking equipment, which is capable of rendering communications capabilities even in far-flung areas having no access to commercial power grids.

The program is in line with Alcatel-Lucent’s recent developments to create more energy efficient wireless networks and leverage its experience deploying more than 300 radio sites powered by alternative energy sources, consequently to develop a mass-produced alternative energy solution capable of being deployed to more than 100,000 wireless base station sites through 2012.