Japan’s New Energy and Industrial Technology Development Organization (NEDO) has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Indian government for undertaking a project demonstrating energy management system for telecom towers in India.

The objective of the ?NEDO Model Project for Energy Management System in Telecommunication Towers in India? is to facilitate energy conservation at telecom tower sites in India by introducing renewable energy and energy management system.

The MoU has been signed under the aegis of India-Japan Energy Partnership. It is a symbolic project that was agreed upon during the visit of Kazuyoshi Akaba, the Senior Vice Minister of Japan?s Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry to India in end-July 2014. This project is the first under India-Japan bilateral co-operation in the energy sector, which is priority of new Indian government.

The demonstration project comes at a time when the Department of Telecommunications (DoT) is emphasising on the reduction of diesel usage at telecom tower sites. The DoT has directed telecom tower companies to ensure that 50 per cent of telecom tower sites in rural areas and 20 per cent of urban telecom tower sites should run on hybrid power, comprising grid power and renewable energy by 2015. Further, the tower companies are expected to cover 75 per cent of rural towers and 33 of urban telecom towers under the hybrid power net by 2020.

Project summary

The project aims at demonstrating a system which will reduce the consumption of diesel and ensure stable supply of electricity at tower sites, by following two methods:

  • Introduction of renewable energy systems and lithium-ion batteries; and application of energy management system supplied by Japaan-based NEC Corporation to demonstrate efficient power usage at telecom towers
  • Application of photo catalyst coat, which reflects solar radiation, on the side wall and roof of BTS shelter. This will be supplied by Pixela to control the temperature inside the shelter, contributing to the reduction in power consumption at telecom towers

The project will be implemented at 62 sites across India to achieve energy conversation. It is expected that once replicated across the 400,000 towers in the country, this model will result in 50 per cent energy conservation and reduction of 1,000,000 kiloliters of diesel consumption.

Sudhir Prasad, Chief Operating Officer, Viom Networks, who was present at the ceremony, stated ?Energy efficiency is crucial to cutting carbon emissions. Aiming to do our part for the global cause, Viom Networks and NEDO have collaborated to explore newer avenues of bringing greener energy solutions to India?s telecom infrastructure sector. As India?s largest independent telecom tower company, Viom Networks has clear environmental goals in the areas of energy efficiency and climate protection. We are fully committed to improve our energy efficiency. Viom Networks and NEDO will assess what can be done to further improve energy performance of telecom towers. Viom Networks and NEDO have identified key areas for improvement, and we are looking forward to cooperating to reduce the Indian telecom industry?s carbon emissions.”