Lok Sabha Question No. 158 (STARRED), answered on 2015-12-09
Subject: Green Energy in Telecom Towers
Ministry: COMMUNICATIONS AND INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY
Asked by: RAJU ALIAS DEVAPPA ANNA SHETTI

## MINISTRY OF COMMUNICATIONS AND INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA DEPARTMENT OF TELECOMMUNICATIONS

## LOK SABHA STARRED QUESTION NO.158 TO BE ANSWERED ON 9 th  December, 2015

## GREEN ENERGY IN TELECOM TOWERS

## †*158. SHRI RAJU SHETTY:

Will  the  Minister  of  COMMUNICATIONS  AND  INFORMATION  TECHNOLOGY be pleased to state: (a) whether the increasing use of diesel by telecom companies for operating telecom towers is contributing to noise and air pollution; (b) if  so,  the  details  thereof  and  the  quantum of diesel used in the telecom towers along with the remedial action taken thereon; (c) whether telecom operators including Bharat Sanchar Nigam Limited are planning to instal solar and wind turbine generators for operating mobile signal towers; (d) if so, the details thereof along with the number of towers powered by the green energy so far, State and operator-wise; and the details of rules and guidelines put in place by the Government for the telecom

## ANSWER

## THE MINISTER OF COMMUNICATIONS AND INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY (SHRI RAVI SHANKAR PRASAD)

- (a) to  (e) A Statement  is laid on the table of the House.
- (e) service providers in this regard?

Contd……2/-

## STATEMENT TO BE LAID ON THE TABLE OF THE LOK SABHA IN RESPECT OF PARTS (a) TO (e) OF LOK  SABHA STARRED QUESTION NO.158 FOR 9 th December, 2015 REGARDING 'GREEN ENERGY IN TELECOM TOWERS'.

(a)      In general, the primary source for powering the telecom tower is grid supply and whenever, grid power is not available, Battery system is used as the first backup. After exhausting battery system, DG (Diesel Generator) set is used as second backup. So, the  diesel  is  used  only  when  grid  power  is  not  available  and  battery  system  is exhausted.  As  per  DoT  guidelines,  the  DG  set  used  for  telecom  towers  meet  the prescribed norms of emission and noise limits.

Further, a report on 'An approach towards Green Telecom' dated 12.04.2011 by Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) report mentions that the total emission of the Indian telecom industry is expected to be around 1% percent of the country's total CO2 emissions.

(b) As stated in (a) above, the diesel is used in mobile towers by second backup i.e. DG set only when the grid power is not available and battery system is exhausted. So, the diesel consumption is need based.

The quantum of diesel used by Telecom Service Providers is not monitored by the  Government.  However, Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) in its report 'An approach towards Green Telecom' dated 12.04.2011 stated that 'Assuming 8 hours of operation by DG sets, the average fuel consumption would be 8760 liters of diesel every year per tower, and the total carbon emission on account of diesel use by telecom towers is estimated to be 10 mt (million tonnes) of CO2 for 4 lacs telecom towers.'

Further,  DOT  is  encouraging  Telecom  Service  Providers  to  use  Renewable Energy Technology (RET) solutions and energy efficient equipments.

(c) & (d) The Telecom Service Providers including Bharat Sanchar Nigam Limited are installing solar & wind projects for mobile towers. However, they have intimated that there  are  certain  constraints  in  installation  such  as  non-availability  of  suitable  &  clear south facing space, rental issues for roof-top space, lack of local eco system in rural/ remote areas etc.

The Telecom Service Providers including  Bharat  Sanchar  Nigam Limited have executed around 4000 of Renewable Energy Technology (RET) projects including solar & wind projects till 2014.

(e) The guidelines for greening of the telecom sector and to achieve reduction in carbon emission are annexed.

Contd…….3/-

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