Indian mobile operator Bharti Airtel today said in press statement that they aim to reduce the company’s operating costs and carbon footprint by halting all diesel power usage in Africa by 2013.
They believe the move will make the company “greener” while opening it up to foreign investors in a press statement.
Through the Indian company’s Hybrid Battery Banks they have reduced the number of sites running solely on diesel by over 50%.
According to Airtel, the Hybrid Battery Banks “collect the excess energy produced by the diesel powered generator in a battery that powers the site once the generator is switched off”.
They said it has reduced the amount of diesel needed by up to 14 hours daily, the company added.
“By 2013, the company aims to completely eradicate the constant use of diesel to power its network. This means no telecom site of the company will rely solely on diesel power 24 hours a day,” Airtel said.
Nearly 60% of all Airtel’s telecom sites on the continent are now powered using the Hybrid model resulting in “major reduction in emissions and also operating costs for the company” they said.
Joseph Mayton
