Abstract: A method in a communication system for managing energy consumption of base stations within the communication system includes computing a marginal energy value for a first base station based on an energy source type of the first base station and computing a marginal energy value for a second base station based on an energy source type of the second base station. The method also includes comparing the marginal energy value for the first base station and the marginal energy value for the second base station.

Abstract: A method in a radio network node for identifying a candidate cell for handover of a user equipment is provided. The radio network node receives, from the user equipment, a first cell identifier associated with the candidate cell. The radio network node signals a cell identification request to at least one base station serving a cell using the first cell identifier. The cell identification request comprises a user equipment identifier associated with the user equipment (102), and requests any cell wherein the user equipment associated with the user equipment identifier can be detected. The radio network node receives a cell identification response comprising a second cell identifier associated with a detecting cell, served by a detecting base station, wherein the user equipment associated with the user equipment identifier is detected. The radio network node then identifies the candidate cell based on the received second cell identifier.

Abstract: A method in a radio network node for identifying a candidate cell for handover of a user equipment is provided. The radio network node receives, from the user equipment, a first cell identifier associated with the candidate cell. The radio network node signals a cell identification request to at least one base station serving a cell using the first cell identifier. The cell identification request comprises a user equipment identifier associated with the user equipment (102), and requests any cell wherein the user equipment associated with the user equipment identifier can be detected. The radio network node receives a cell identification response comprising a second cell identifier associated with a detecting cell, 10 served by a detecting base station, wherein the user equipment associated with the user equipment identifier is detected. The radio network node then identifies the candidate cell based on the received second cell identifier.

Abstract: A method in a communication system for managing energy consumption of base stations within the communication system includes computing a marginal energy value for a first base station based on an energy source type of the first base station and computing a marginal energy value for a second base station based on an energy source type of the second base station. The method also includes comparing the marginal energy value for the first base station and the marginal energy value for the second base station.