Bharti Infratel to Increase Use of Off-Grid Electricity Supplies

Published on: 2nd Aug 2012

­Indian tower operator, Bharti Infratel has signed a deal for off-grid electricity supplies for its rural base stations. The deal was signed with OMC Power, a new Renewable Energy Service Company.

Under this partnership, OMC will set up Micropower plants in off-grid and low grid locations. These power plants will generate electricity primarily using renewable energy sources and supply energy to Infratel's tower sites. This will help reduce the use of diesel-powered gensets currently used to power these towers. In addition, this initiative will benefit rural households in the local community vicinity by supplying them electricity to power fans, lighting, televisions, and water pumps etc.

Bharti Infratel currently has over 33,000 towers, of which nearly 9000 are in off-grid / poor grid locations. Following trials, OMC has already built the first Micropower Plant in Uttar Pradesh as part of this 10-year agreement.

Anil Raj, co-founder and CEO of OMC Power, said: "Our Micropower Plants have been designed specifically for rural areas. We have moved power from Capex to Opex and can supply more electricity at a better price than operators can by doing it themselves".

OMC has partnered with established technology companies to build its Micropower Plants and is using a combination of wind, solar, diesel and battery back-up to ensure a constant supply of power. Using a hybrid of techniques means that at any point in time power will be drawn from the most suitable source with little or no wastage.

 

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