Telecom operator Idea Cellular has achieved significant cost savings through several green energy initiatives during fiscal 2016-17.
Idea Cellular said it focused on deploying cost-effective and energy-efficiency technology related initiatives such as infrastructure-sharing, deployment of high efficient network hardware, replacement of high consuming hardware with more efficient telecom hardware, increasing the energy efficiency of existing installations etc.
Idea’s Green programs
# Reduced carbon emissions at the existing and new sites
# Adopted better battery hybrid solutions to reduce consumption
# Procurement of energy efficient telecom hardware
Presently, 19 percent of Idea owned telecom towers are operational with hybrid solutions resulting emission reduction by 36,373 tons.
Over 67 percent of Idea Cellular’s BTS are outdoor BTS, resulting into 25 percent reduction in energy consumption compared to indoor BTS.
Idea Cellular has converted 5,458 indoor sites to outdoor sites in FY17 resulting in reducing CO2 emissions of about 31,000 tons in addition to 10,497 sites converted till FY16 reducing cumulative carbon emissions by 61,000 tons.
The tenancy ratio of Idea Cellular is about 2.8, which is highest in the country that further reduces the size of its carbon footprint.
Idea Cellular is evaluating the usage of deep discharge battery solutions such as lithium ion batteries and flow batteries for site operations.
Green data centre
Idea Cellular has a data centre at Hinjewadi, Pune.
Idea Cellular ha installed water based air cooled chillers in data centre to reduce energy consumption.
Idea Cellular is promoting the usage of pro-curtain for separation of cold aisle and hot aisle for better cooling. Idea has implemented cold aisle containment to increase HVAC efficiency, saving on energy consumption and to reduce related emissions.
Idea Cellular has an Active Floor based cooling system – directing the cool air to the area where it is required rather than flooding the entire Area.
Blower Fan’s Maximum Rated Load is 3.2 KW on 100 percent Fan speed. It is running Blower Fan at 70 percent Speed which consume 1.6 KW without affecting the Cooling Requirement of the Data Centre.
The telecom operator implemented LED lighting system in DC and some of the office floors and also office area lighting is scheduled from 8:30 a.m. to 7:00 p.m. and will be switched on need basis in areas where the actual staff is present after the office hours.
The company operates with lux levels below 300 and keeps a good mix of natural and artificial illumination for conserving energy.
Idea Cellular is using solar solutions at over 1,200 sites: Cumulative solar deployment is presently about 5.4 MW.
The mobile operator has implemented On-Site Solar project in FY15. Idea Cellular has constructed a 25 KW solar plant on the roof of Idea Delhi MSC in fiscal 2015.
In FY17, Idea signed 4 MW Solar PPAs in Andhra Pradesh (AP) circle and Madhya Pradesh (MP) circle with combined 4.9 Mn Solar Units generated neutralizing CO2 emission of 3,975 tons.
The Indian telecom operator has signed 1 MW Wind PPS in Tamil Nadu circle with 1.7 million wind units generated and neutralized CO2 emissions of 1,398 tons. Idea has plans to deploy similar model in three other circles where power will be generated from a solar at a remote place and fed to grid.
Idea Cellular achieved CO2 emission reduction of about 36,373 tons through the Power Purchase Agreements and indoor to outdoor conversions. Idea has reduced the DG running by 4 hours per BTS, on an average, saving approximately 2 million litres of diesel in FY17.
