Hybrid Power for Rapid Deployment

Portable telescopic tower platforms are designed for speed, reliability, and flexibility in the field. Whether supporting communications, surveillance, emergency response, or temporary infrastructure, these systems must operate in locations where shore power is unavailable and generator-only operation is inefficient, noisy, and fuel intensive.

eMarine Systems was selected to design and supply a hybrid lithium-based power solution for Aluma Tower, a Will-Burt company, to extend runtime, reduce generator dependence, and enable quiet standby operation in mission-critical environments.

The result is a compact, rugged, remotely monitored power architecture tailored specifically for mobile deployment platforms.

Project Goals

Aluma Tower required a system that could:

• Extend operating runtime without increasing generator size
• Reduce fuel consumption
• Support unattended field deployment
• Operate reliably outdoors in harsh environments
• Maintain performance in cold weather
• Provide real-time remote monitoring
• Fit within strict physical space constraints

Rather than adapting a generic off-the-shelf configuration, eMarine engineered a complete integrated package around the platform itself. Every component was selected to match the operational profile of a mobile telescopic tower system.

A True Hybrid Architecture

The final system combines three energy sources into a coordinated power platform:

• Lithium battery storage
• Roof-mounted solar generation
• Generator or shore power input through inverter-based distribution

This allows the tower to operate efficiently across multiple deployment scenarios:

• Generator available: batteries charge while loads run
• Solar available: runtime extends automatically
• Standby mode: silent battery operation
• Remote site: autonomous hybrid operation

The system dynamically prioritizes available energy sources while maintaining stable AC output.

Lithium Storage Designed for Field Reliability

At the center of the installation is a 48V lithium iron phosphate battery bank built from two Epoch 48V 100Ah batteries.

These batteries were selected for several reasons:

• High cycle life
• Stable lithium iron phosphate chemistry
• Compact footprint
• Integrated safety protection
• Built-in internal heaters for cold-weather charging

This system stores about 9.6 kilowatt-hours of battery energy and can deliver up to 5,000 watts of AC power. In practice, runtime depends on the load. For example, a 1,000-watt load would run for roughly 8 to 9 hours on battery alone, while a 2,000-watt load would be closer to 4 hours. The solar panel helps extend runtime and reduce generator use, especially in lower-load standby operation.

Cold weather charging is often overlooked in mobile deployments. Integrated heating ensures the system remains operational even when ambient temperatures drop below normal lithium charging thresholds. This is especially important for unattended installations operating overnight or across seasonal environments.

Inverter-Based Power Distribution with Victron Quattro

AC output for the tower platform is supplied by a Victron Quattro 5000W inverter/charger.

The Quattro provides:

• Seamless switching between generator, shore power, and inverter output
• Stable AC power delivery
• Integrated battery charging
• High reliability in continuous-duty environments

When external AC is unavailable, the Quattro automatically transitions to battery-supplied inverter output without interruption. When generator or shore power becomes available again, the system returns to charge mode and supports loads simultaneously.

This flexibility is essential in rapid deployment infrastructure systems where power availability changes frequently.

Solar Integration Without Increasing Platform Footprint

Space constraints on mobile platforms are always a challenge. The solar subsystem had to deliver meaningful energy production without interfering with tower operation or transport geometry.

A 385W Meyer Burger solar panel was selected because it fit perfectly within the available mounting space while delivering maximum output for the area available.

This panel feeds a Genasun lithium-optimized solar charge controller known for:

• Rugged reliability
• High conversion efficiency
• Compact size
• Field-proven performance

Solar generation extends runtime automatically during daylight hours and reduces generator runtime requirements. Less generator runtime means lower fuel consumption, reduced maintenance intervals, quieter operation, and improved deployment flexibility.

Marine-Grade Wiring for Outdoor Longevity

Unlike stationary installations, tower platforms live outdoors full time. Corrosion resistance and environmental durability were critical design requirements.

For this reason, all wiring supplied by eMarine uses marine-grade cable and termination components.

This provides:

• Superior moisture resistance
• Vibration tolerance
• Long-term connector reliability
• Reduced maintenance risk

Even though the platform operates on land, marine wiring standards significantly improve lifecycle durability.

Intelligent Distribution with Victron Lynx Architecture

Power distribution and battery monitoring are handled through the Victron Lynx system.

This architecture provides:

• Centralized DC distribution
• Integrated battery protection
• Clean system layout
• Scalable expansion capability
• High current handling capacity

It also simplifies troubleshooting and improves serviceability compared to conventional busbar assemblies.

System Visibility Through Cerbo GX Monitoring

Mobile infrastructure equipment often operates unattended for extended periods. Monitoring is not optional. It is essential.

The system includes a Victron Cerbo GX paired with a GX Touch display to provide:

• Battery status
• Solar production data
• Inverter performance
• Load consumption visibility
• System alarms
• Historical data logging

A Victron SmartShunt operates in DC monitor mode to ensure solar contribution data is visible alongside system consumption metrics.

Together, these devices create a unified monitoring environment accessible locally or remotely.

Remote Monitoring via LTE Connectivity

Because tower deployments are frequently unmanned, remote access was a core requirement.

A Victron GX LTE 4G modem connects the system to the Victron VRM portal, allowing operators to:

• View real-time system performance
• Monitor battery state of charge
• Track solar production
• Confirm inverter status
• Receive alerts
• Mirror the GX Touch display remotely

This enables full visibility without visiting the site. For mission-critical infrastructure, remote monitoring dramatically improves uptime and response capability.

Quiet Standby Operation

One of the most important advantages of the hybrid architecture is silent standby capability.

Traditional generator-only systems must remain running even when loads are minimal. With lithium storage integrated:

• Generators run less frequently
• Standby operation becomes silent
• Fuel consumption decreases
• Maintenance intervals extend

This is particularly valuable in surveillance, communications, and emergency deployment scenarios.

Turnkey Engineering Down to the Details

eMarine delivered a complete integration package that included:

• Battery bank selection
• Inverter architecture design
• Solar integration planning
• Distribution hardware
• Circuit protection
• Monitoring systems
• Communications hardware
• Wiring and termination components
• Mounting-compatible component selection

Even items such as breakers, cabling, and crimp hardware were specified as part of the system design. This ensured the final installation matched the intended performance envelope without field improvisation.

Designed Around the Application, Not Adapted to It

Portable tower platforms present a unique engineering challenge. They require compact layout, vibration tolerance, environmental durability, flexible charging sources, and reliable unattended operation.

Rather than adapting a generic mobile power package, eMarine worked directly with Aluma Tower during the design process to develop a system tailored specifically to the operational requirements of the platform.

The result is a hybrid energy architecture that improves runtime, reduces generator dependence, enables quiet standby operation, and provides full remote visibility while maintaining a compact deployment footprint suitable for rapid field use.

Supporting Mission-Critical Deployments

Hybrid lithium power systems are becoming standard in mobile infrastructure platforms because they provide measurable operational advantages over generator-only architectures.

For the Aluma Tower platform, the upgrade delivers:

• Extended runtime
• Reduced generator dependence
• Silent standby capability
• Cold-weather charging reliability
• Integrated monitoring
• Remote visibility through VRM
• Corrosion-resistant wiring
• Compact deployment footprint

Most importantly, it ensures the platform can support mission-critical applications wherever it is deployed.