Powering Indian Telecom Towers Environmental Sciences Essay

solar energy has proven to be a skilful and economicalal method of creatoring telecommunicationmunication systems in topographic points where conventional electrical energy is unavailable or impractical. It provides an first-class beginning of clean, dependable government agency to detect un-interrupted causality come out to telecom rules. This paper contains a brief interpretation of Indian telecom bulk larges and photovoltaic ( PV ) mobile phones substance abuse in telecommunication systems. Because solar energy systems ar robust and terms effectual, the demand for solar condition in telecommunications will go on to turn.Key Words-insolation, irradiance, photovoltaic, solar cell, solar energyIntroductionIndia is now in the 2nd largest of the Global telecom signalingets and is projected to observe the develop of China. Our state at once has about 400,000 telecom towers around the bestow and poised to increase to 450,000 towers over the following 2 old ages ( 2 ) . A big part of these towers is non connected to the electricity storage-battery grid or does non hold entree to dependable electricity connoting they train to put in backup effect systems in order of battle to affect without breaks. Diesel Generators draw been the pick of telecom operators despite their high C imprint. Telecom predominates are estimation to fire 2 Billion Liters of Diesel ( around d meg barrels ) yearly at a cost of myriad crores. On an norm, about 260,000 is organism spent yearly to carry finished the Diesel demands of a individual telecom tower. These high input be alike result in high pollution. While the authorities has been pursuit to change over these towers to renewable energy signifiers, most of the tower operators have been really slow to implement this alteration. The renewable energy ministry had asked telecom companies to arch piling their dependence on conventional fuels and see creams for partially force playing telecom towers. Wh ile near tower Godheads are looking at pissed natural gas and piped natural gas to power towers, Indus Towers, the largest with over 1 lakh towers in India, planned to put up 2,500 solar towers by terminal of this twelvemonth. Viom Net playacts, which operates more than(pre nominated) than 38,000 towers across India, plans to run more than wiz-quarter of this figure on hang on energy within the following two old ages. It plans to run 2,000 towers on solar power finishedly by 2013. For the GSM Technology, it requires an norm of 6 BTS to run one tower. Each shelter has two ( 1.5 ton ) carry conditioners for the cardinal manage of the temperature for the shelter s electronic systems. The DG stack is typically 15 kVA potentiality, which consumes an norm of 3 ls of Diesel per hr 4 .Each tower requires energy from ascorbic acid0 W to 3000 W ( honest-to-god installing consumes more power as comparison to new one because of technological promotion ) . Each 1000 W consequenc es in the 22 tonnes/hr of emanation of carbon copy dioxide if running on the state electricity and in instance of the gensets this figure is many times more. Assuming loaded power ingestion of each tower is 1200 W so accurate carbonic acid gas emanation is 105.6 lakh metric ton per hr by all these towers if we assume that all are running on province electricity. In India about 70 % telecom towers are in verdant countries. Soon 40 % power demands are met by grid electricity and 60 % by Diesel generators 2 . The Diesel generators are of 10-15 KVA capacity and devour about 3 litres of Diesel per hr and bring forwards 2.63 kilogram of carbon dioxide per litre. For every kWh of grid electricity consumed, 0.84 Kg of CO2 is emitted. Entire CO2 emanation is around 5 one thousand thousand tones of CO2 repayable to diesel ingestion and around 8 million dozenss collect to power grid per annum. The move from Diesel to solar and other alternate beginnings of energy will ensue in a d ecrease of 5 million dozenss of CO2 emanations every bit good as a nest eggs of immense sum in operating disbursals for telecom tower companies. Move to renewable energy beginnings slew bring forrard 1000000s of C credits that could countervail the opex on their towers. Therefore by substitute diesel generators with solar panels in cell phone towers, more than 5 million dozenss of C emanations could be prevented from come ining the ambiance and cut down the opex of telecom towers. India has approximately 500 million nomadic phone endorsers, more than even the population of any state except China India is pass judgment to hold one billion mobile phone endorsers by 2015 which would cerebrate about 250,000 more Mobile towers which, in bend, would duplicate the C emanations. eventide if the solar panels supply a portion of the entire power required, it would pipe down salvage significant sums of money, fuel and C emanations.Electricity Generation Through solar CellsIn India the o ne-year solar radiation is about 5 kWh/ sq thousand per two dozen hours with about 1500-2000 sun-shine hours per twelvemonth. solar radiations represent the Earth s most copious energy beginning. The perennial beginning of solar energy provides limitless supply, has no negative impact on the purlieu. The solar photovoltaic ( PV ) modules convert solar radiation from the lie into electrical energy in the signifier of plow menstruation ( DC ) . Converting solar energy into electricity is the reply to the ascent power jobs in telecom towers peculiarly in the rural countries. PV or solar cells are semiconductor devices that convert sunlight into direct current electricity ( Fig.1 ) . When light photons of sufficient energy work stoppage a solar cell, they knock negatrons free in the silicon crystal construction, coercing them through an external circuit and so returning them to the other side of the solar cell to get down the procedure all over one time more.Fig. 1. ( a ) photo voltaic consequence ( B ) how a PV cell plants ( sufficient stop Celsius ) a crystalised Si panelThe electromotive force end crossway from a individual crystalline solar cell is about 0.5 V with an amperage end product that is straight relative to the cell s get up country ( about 7 amperes for a 6-inch-square multi crystalline solar cell ) . Typically, 30 to 36 cells are wired in series ( + to ) in each solar faculty. This produces a solar faculty with a 12-volt nominal end product ( 17 Vs at peak power ) that can so be wired in series and/or correspond with other solar faculties to organize a complete solar array. Solar cells used in telecom towers are shown in Fig 2. Solar cell is cosmopolitan and will work virtually anyplace nevertheless, both(prenominal) locations are evidently more suited than others. Irradiance is a step of the Sun s power available at the Earth s surface, with power peaking at about 1,000 Wattss per square metre ( W/m2 ) . With typical crystalline s olar cell efficiencies about 14 to 16 per centum, approximately cxl to 160 Wattss can be generated per square metre of solar cells primed(p) in full Sun. Insolation, which is a step of the available energy from the Sun, is explicit in footings of full Sun hours ( i.e. , 4 full Sun hours = 4 hours of sunshine at an irradiance degree of 1,000 W/m2 ) 1 .Fig.2 Solar cells used in telecom tower for United Nations interrupted power supply.Tele DensityTelephone introduced in India in 1882. The entire figure of telephones in the state stands at 885.99 million, temporary hookup the overall tele-density has increased to 73.97 % and the entire Numberss of nomadic phone endorsers have reached 851.70 million as of June 2011. Himachal Pradesh has become the first province in India to accomplish 100 per cent tele-density. The province has about seven million nomadic clients 5 . The province population is 6.8 million as per the Census 2011 much frown than the nomadic subscriber populatio n of seven million. While the urban tele constriction reached 150.67 per cent, the rural tele denseness reached 32.11per cent. Experts have pointed out that the grounds for this rapid suppuration are lowest call rates, big market base due to bigger population, well ample untapped market and robust economic growing of the state. In add-on factors like rapid technological acceptance, better service criterions, advanced merchandise offerings and competitory pricing amongst the service suppliers has besides contributed in a major manner to increase the tele-density of the state.Energy Management in Telecom TowersA Telecom tower enables telecom operators to supply weathervane joining to mobile users.Fig. 3 Standard Telecom SystemTelecom being an indispensable service requires the web to be ever available. In order to accomplish this, the tower groundwork that has 2 operators uses 6-8 kilowatt ( avg. ) of electricity per hr ( Fig.3 ) . Energy demands of a telecom tower in India are p resently met throughElectricity MainsDiesel Generator andUPS / Battery RacksDiesel Consumption in Telecom Towers and Environmental PollutionThe telecom operator spends 3 billion ( USD 67.42 million ) every month towards running Diesel generators in distant locations where grid base power is limited. This translates to an summonsal energy disbursal of around 65 billion yearly to run web towers, particularly in off-grid locations ( 4 ) . Since, Electricity supply is fickle and is non available through out the twenty-four hours in many parts, Diesel Generators ( DG ) are used to power the telecom web, as a dorsum up for power supply.DG s are unconscious processal for 15-20 hours ( avg. ) in rural countries and 3- 7 hours in urban countries ( Table 1 ) seting a emphasis on the environment by manner of C emanations and noise pollutionOne liter of Diesel emits 2.63 kilogram of CO2 emanations.Hence telecom webs contribute to carbon emanations and peregrine heating.Table 1 Power Availabi lity at Tower SitesGrid Power Availability Cell Sites10 % & gt 20 hour Chiefly resistance metropoliss of Mumbai, Kolkota,Chennai, close to metropoliss of Gujarat, State ofChattisgarh, some metropoliss of Punjab20 % 16-20 hour Covers most other major metropoliss and towns in theremainder of the state30 % 12-16 hour all(prenominal) semi-urban and little urban towns in allprovinces25 % 8-12 hour broadly speaking rural countries15 % & lt 8 hour Mostly parts of Bihar and some towns ofAssam, NE provinces, UP and J & A KThe Power botherA speedy analysis of telecom web runing costs indicates power and fuel are the primary operating costs, consisting over 30 % of entire operating cost. This is because grid power ( Electricity Board or EB power ) is extremely undependable and in a batch of instances, non available in rural countries. BTS sites require changeless and uninterrupted power for the safe operation of the web. As a consequence, BTS sites have lend oneselfd onsite Diesel generators to either supply backup or primary power in the absence of EB power. constant operation is achieved through a battery bank. The typical constellation of DG sets is 10-15 KVA with a fuel burn rate of 2-3 liters per hr ( depending on full or half load operations ) . Assuming seven hours of DG operations in urban countries and 20 hours in rural countries, estimated use of Diesel fuel is 2-4 billion liters per twelvemonth across the 400,000 towers in India. open fire demand is increasing with each new tower. India, with its first-class irradiance, has the chance to work Photovoltaic ( PV ) solar power to run into this challenge of onsite power coevals. join with a battery backup, PV systems are a feasible and exciting option to cut down the power cost and entire operating outmatch ( OPEX ) , thereby supplying a sustainable and dependable strategic radical to the fuel job. The operating cost of Diesel and solar PV system is shown in Table-2 which shows that solar PV syste m is economical ( 14.08/kWh ) than Diesel DG sets ( 16.19/kWh ) and besides eco warm and can market their C recognition to cut down further the opex of the telecom tower.Table 2. Comparative analysis of solar PV and diesel generators ( DG ) uses in telecom tower.Strictly DG setsStrictly PV systemyearly ingestion of 15 kVA DG sets 3 litres/h, liters26280Assumed capacity, Wp150004 % shut down period i.e.for 96 % operation, liters25229Annual sunshine hours1650kWh produce 3.5 kWh/litre88301.510 twelvemonth output, kWp247500Diesel cost 42/litre,1059618Capital investing 200/Wp,30,00,000Cost of machine etc,300000 operate cost, ( including depreciation, involvement, care ) , /10 old ages49,80,000Operating cost ( including depreciation, involvement, housing/rent, care ) , /year1429918Operating cost/kWh,16.19Operating cost/kWh,20.12After 30 % subsidy14.08Telecommunication Companies and Their RoleECIndia has the fastest turning telecom web in the universe with its high population and devel opment potency. India s popular sector telecom company BSNL ( 11.41 % ) is the seventh largest telecom company in universe. The entry of new participants into the telecom industry has made competition intense, in peculiar over the last four old ages. The dominant participants in the market presently include Bharti-Airtel ( 20.09 per cent of the Indian market ) , reliance Communications ( 16.70 % ) , Vodafone ( 16.54 % ) , Tata Tele Services ( 11.08 % ) , bringing close together ( 10.97 % ) and Aircel ( 6.76 % ) ( Table 3 ) .Table 3. care of telecom companies in Indian market and stairss taken to habituate renewablesCompanies trade portion, %Stairss taken for usage Renewable energy in teletowersBharati Airtel20.09Targeted for solarizing 2000 towers by 2010-11. No latest knowledge on accomplishment.Reliance Communication16.70Stairss taken to utilize renewable to cut down opex by 50-60 %Vodafone16.5423 % of its planetary operation by renewablesBSNL11.41Taken pilot undertakings un der Jawharlal Nehru Solar Mission for solarizing towers.Tata Teleservices Ltd11.08Deployed 31 cell sites powered by solar power and fuel cells.Idea Cellular10.97Solar-DG loanblend in some nomadic towersAircel6.76No information availableStel0.34Cringle0.39Eti Salat0.08HFCL0.18Uninor2.73Videcon0.83MTNL0.69Siestema1.21Beginning Telephone Regulatory position of India ( as on 28th Feb, 2011 )As per the directives of Ministry of New and Renewable Energy, some companies have taken inaugural stairss to utilize renewable energy beginnings to power their telecom towers. Some major areBharti Infratel has set a mark of deploying 2000 renewable energy sites by the fiscal twelvemonth 2010-11. The undertaking is besides expected to ensue in an estimated decrease of 58,170 metric tons of CO2 emanations per twelvemonth.BSNL has taken up pilot undertakings for 10 kilowatts solar workss at 14 sites and Wind power undertaking at 6 USO funded sites in Rajasthan, Gujarat, Tamil Nadu, Karnataka and Mahar ashtra.Indus Towers, the largest with over 1 lakh towers in India, will put up 2,500 solar towers by September this twelvemonth.Viom Networks, which operates more than 38,000 towers across India, plans to run more than one-quarter of this figure on alternate energy within the following two old ages. It plans to run 2,000 towers on solar power entirely by 2013.There are around 5,60,276 Base Transceiver Stations ( BTS ) in the state. It may be noted that BTS is different from towers as one tower may hold more than one BTS. In India the tower companies portion the tower sites with all telecom operators. While the tower is erected by the tower substructure companies, the BTS is installed by the telecom operators. A nomadic tower is an aerial where electronic communications equipment are placed on a wireless mast or tower to make a cell in a cellular web. A nomadic tower is composed of a tower or other elevated construction for mounting aerial and one or more sets of transmitter/receiv ers transceivers, digital signal processors, control electronics, a GPS receiving system, invariable and backup electrical power beginnings, and sheltering. Circle wise interruption up of BTS is given below 3 .MetroDelhiA A A A A A A A A A A A A A A A A A A A A A A A A A 20,715MumbaiA A A A A A A A A A A A A A A A A A A A A A 21,038KolkottaA A A A A A A A A A A A A A A A A A A A A 14,018TotalA A A A A A A A A A A A A A A A A A A A A A A A A A 55,771A CirclesMaharashtraA A A A A A A A A A A A A A A 42,998GujaratA A A A A A A A A A A A A A A A A A A A A A A 31,852Andhra PradeshA A A A A A A A A A A 43,661KarnatakaA A A A A A A A A A A A A A A A A A 39,093Tamil NaduA A A A A A A A A A A A A A A A 52,075TotalA A A A A A A A A A A A A A A A A A A A A A A 2,09,679Fig 4. A roof top Mobile tower in Bhubaneswar utilizing intercrossed grid-DGB CirclesKeralaA A A A A A A A A A A A A A A A A A A A A A A A 27.156 Fig.3 A BTS systemPunjabA A A A A A A A A A A A A A A A A A A A A A A A 19,575Ha ryanaA A A A A A A A A A A A A A A A A A A A A 13,883UPA A A A A A A A A A A A A A A A A A A A A A A A A A A A A 68,487RajasthanA A A A A A A A A A A A A A A A A A A 28,694Madhya PradeshA A A A A A A A A A A 31,665West BengalA A A A A A A A A A A A A A A 24,532TotalA A A A A A A A A A A A A A A A A A A A A A A 2,13,992C CirclesHimachal PradeshA A A A A A A A A 5,425BiharA A A A A A A A A A A A A A A A A A A A A A A A A A 35,086OrissaA A A A A A A A A A A A A A A A A A A A A A A A 18,095AssamA A A A A A A A A A A A A A A A A A A A A A A A A 9,610 northeastern EastA A A A A A A A A A A A A A A A A A A 5,490Jammu & A KashmirA A A A A A A A 7,128TotalA A A A A A A A A A A A A A A A A A A A A A A A A A 80,834Grand TotalA A A A A A A A A A A A A A 560,276DecisionTo cut down CO2 emanation and planetary heating due to telecom towers, Govt. should do it compulsory to telecom companies to utilize renewable energy.Govt. should halt subsidy on Diesel for telecom companies.to a greater extent i nducements should be given to those who use renewable energy for their towers.