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Green answers to red-hot questions

Learn how the GSM Association’s Green Power for Mobile programme is bidding to slash carbon emissions by 6.3 million tons

In a bid to cut carbon emissions by 6.3 million tons and save up to 2.5 billion litres of diesel annually, the GSM Association, the global trade body for the mobile industry, launched the Green Power for Mobile programme. The purpose is to promote the use of alternative sources of energy for network base stations outside of the power grid.

Bringing coverage to remote areas

Around 2.6 billion people live in regions with unreliable access to electricity, so-called grid-off areas, or in off-grid areas with no electricity at all. Connecting these emerging and largely rural markets to mobile networks is usually accomplished by setting up diesel-fuelled generators to power the base stations.

But with volatile oil prices and networks being set up in increasingly remote areas, this is proving to be an expensive and inefficient solution. Transporting diesel to far-flung locations is costly and time-consuming, and in some regions fuel theft is not uncommon. In addition, there is an environmental price to pay for using fossil fuel. Mobile operators currently account for 0.5% of the world’s CO2 emissions. With the explosive growth of the mobile industry, this figure seems set to increase.

To find sustainable ways of connecting the unconnected, operators need to explore alternative sources of energy. This is what the Green Power for Mobile programme is all about.

Profitable investments in green energy

Base stations currently account for up to 90% of mobile network energy consumption. But according to the GSM Association’s forecast, as many as 118,000 base stations could be powered by alternative energy sources by 2012, compared to only 1,500 today.

Until now, the cost of investing in green power has been prohibitive. But with renewable equipment prices falling and unpredictable fuel costs, operators could now recoup their capital investment in two years, in the best case.

Rob Conway, GSM Association CEO and board member, says, “Through our Development Fund, the GSM Association has built deep expertise in solar, wind and other renewable energy sources that mobile operators can tap into to help them connect the unconnected, reduce operating costs and minimise environmental damage.”

Base stations fuelled by solar power

In Ethiopia, the GSM Association’s vision is being turned into reality by Nokia Siemens Networks. Atu Amare Amsalu, CEO of the Ethiopian Telecommunications Corporation, explains, “The key challenge is, there are places where there are no access roads, and there are places where there is no commercial electric power, all of the Nokia Siemens Networks sites are totally fuelled by solar power.”

This was made possible by Nokia Siemens Networks’ autonomous sites for base stations. Combining the latest technology with the best in renewable energy sources, they can be adapted to local conditions to suit the environment of the site. Solar power is ideal in Ethiopia’s climate, but an autonomous site can also use wind power or a combination of energy sources.

Reduced operational expenses

Wind and solar powered sites have an upfront investment cost, but in return the operational costs are minimal. In addition to reducing the operator’s carbon footprint, they also contribute to a low total cost of ownership, which is vital for providing affordable services to subscribers.

The Green Power for Mobile programme is further proof that the mobile communications industry has a significant role in reducing CO2 emissions. For operators wanting to expand into emerging markets, the use of alternative sources of energy seems increasingly like a sensible option.