GSMA Mobile for Development launched the Green Power for Mobile Programme in September 2008 and with the support of the International Finance Corporation, aims to extend mobile beyond the grid simultaneously reducing energy costs and minimising environmental impacts.
Our commitment is to promote the development of renewable energies for mobile telecom networks. This is defined by the goal of helping the mobile industry use renewable energy sources, such as solar, wind or sustainable biofuels, to power 118,000 new, or convert existing off-grid base stations in developing countries. Recently, this figure has reached over 40,000 live and planned sites, details of which can be found on the Green Deployment Tracker. Reaching this target will lead to an estimated 2.5 billion litres of diesel per annum being saved and annual carbon emissions would be cut by up to 6.8 million tonnes.
Recent technological improvements and cost reductions in green power solutions have made this alternative more commercially attractive. Coupled with the environmental benefits of reduced diesel use and subsequent emissions, green power solutions provide a promising opportunity for operators.
What does the GPM team Do
Since its inception, the Green Power for Mobile programme has evolved tremendously and to date have conducted 27 feasibility studies in developing countries, in which a team member is studying an operator’s network and assessing the opportunities for renewable energy usability, whereby a team member works with an operator’s network and assesses the opportunities for renewable energy usability. The team is also involved in identifying new technologies, services or trends that could impact the energy component of telecom networks in order to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and optimise mobile operators’ business models. This is then disseminated to the industry through knowledge sharing and convening sessions, reports, blog and our social media networks.
The diagram below illustrates how business models have evolved during the evolution of the programme.
We continue to work with our partner, the International Finance Corporation who awarded us with another grant earlier in the year. Whilst we continue to serve mobile network operators globally, the programme will place key importance on a number of target markets in West Africa, East Africa and Asia including Indonesia, Bangladesh, Pakistan, Nigeria, Kenya and Tanzania. With Project Managers based in each of these regions, we are now in process of building our industry engagements and addressing the requirements of these markets.
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