NEW DELHI: The government signed a pact with Japan's New Energy and Industrial Technology Development Organization (NEDO) for renewable energy management solutions at mobile towers.

"This projects demonstrates the technology, which aims at reducing the diesel consumption and stable supply of electricity in telecom towers, which are increasing rapidly in India by introducing renewable energy and Lithium Ion batteries and application of Energy Management System(EMS) from Japan," a statement from NEDO said.

This is the first project under India-Japan bilateral co-operation in the energy sector which is the priority of new government, it added.

The project signees included Department of Economic Affairs (DEA), Ministry of New and renewable Energy, Department of Telecommunication, NEDO and Indian mobile tower companies GTL infrastructure and Viom Networks.

"It is expected that there will be around 50 per cent energy conservation and around reduction of 10 lakh kiloliters of diesel fuel given that this system is replicated in approximately four lakhs (4,00,000)of telecom towers in India," the statement said.

The demonstration of the project will be done in the outskirts of major cities like Delhi and Mumbai and other parts of India covering a total of 62 sites. Out of this, EMS will be demonstrated in 20 sites and photo catalyst paint demonstration will be at 52 sites.

GTL Infrastructure and Viom Networks, which are the telecom tower infrastructure companies, will participate as partners from India and demonstration will be carried out in the telecom towers of both companies, it added.

The DoT has directed telecom tower companies that by 2015 electricity supply to 50 per cent of rural and 20 per cent of urban telecom towers should be done through a hybrid system comprising grid power and renewable energy.

The target of this policy is to cover 75 per cent of rural and 33 per cent of urban telecom towers by 2020.

"It is expected that there will be around 50 per cent energy conservation and around reduction of 10 lakh kiloliters of diesel fuel given that this system is replicated in approximately four lakhs of telecom towers in India," it said.