USTDA Accelerates Clean Energy for Telecom Towers in India
December 2, 2013
(USTDA)
Solar Hybrid Methanol Fuel Cells Project Builds
on U.S.-India Energy Cooperation
MUMBAI, INDIA – This week, USTDA awarded a
grant to Idea Cellular Limited, a leading
mobile service provider in India, to support
the development of clean energy technologies
for India's telecom sector. The grant will fund
a feasibility study and pilot project that will
assess the technical, economic and financial
feasibility of deploying solar hybrid methanol
based fuel cell (SHMBFC) systems that provide
continuous and uninterruptible power to telecom
towers. The project, which will be carried out
by ICF International (Fairfax, VA), aims to
assist Idea Cellular's effort to replace
stationary diesel engines by demonstrating
SHMBFC technology at five telecom tower sites
using 2.5 and 5.0 kilowatt fuel cell units.
"India has a growing need for new sources of
cleaner energy. Ultimately, this pilot project
intends to demonstrate the viability of
replacing diesel generators with fuel cell
power systems not only at telecom towers, but
also at other sites throughout the country that
require reliable back-up power solutions such
as hospitals, data centers and commercial
areas, " said USTDA Director Leocadia I. Zak.
"This grant demonstrates the active
collaboration between the U.S. government and
the U.S. and Indian private sectors to advance
clean energy in India."
During the signing ceremony, Ambassador Nancy
Powell noted, "As the energy needs of our
countries continue to grow, it is important
that we are investing in efficient energy
infrastructure and India's domestic resources
in ways that minimize environmental impacts
while keeping up with India's expanding
economy. I congratulate USTDA, ICF
International and Idea Cellular on this smart
energy initiative."
Following the grant signing, Mr. Himanshu
Kapania, Managing Director, Idea Cellular said,
"Idea Cellular, an Aditya Birla Group Company,
has been a pioneer in renewable energy
technologies deployment to power telecom sites
in India, for the past several years. The grant
offered by USTDA will further spur our efforts
towards reducing carbon emissions from telecom
infrastructure in the country."
This effort advances the work of the U.S.-India
Energy Cooperation Program (ECP), a
public-private partnership between U.S. member
companies and the governments of the United
States and India. This project also supports
U.S. government priorities in India by
promoting domestic energy production, rural
electrification and the usage of cleaner
alternatives to fossil fuels in an effort to
reduce the country's dependence on oil and gas
imports. These objectives will feature
prominently during the upcoming U.S-India
Energy Dialogue in New Delhi in January 2014.
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