Biofuels

Overview

The Biofuels Programme aims to connect off-grid locations by identifying a locally grown crop that can be locally processed to power the community's base station. In doing so, the end to end solution generates local agricultural employment, reduces the need for road and other infrastructure development, lowers transportation and security costs and provides a cleaner and greener solution. The project team is committed to the avoidance of mass plantations and is ultimately committed to the use of non-edible crops.

Biofuels are a promising alternative to fossil fuels and a realistic option for operators planning to rollout base stations in remote areas. As the price of petrodiesel rises, biofuels become a more realistic option. Extracting oil from crops such as jatropha and producing biodiesel is relatively straightforward. Furthermore, security concerns are significantly reduced due to the use of locally grown crops. Overall, the global market for biofuels is being led by international energy policy as well as increasing public awareness.

Working with Idea Cellular and Ericsson in India, we now have 40 base stations running 24-7 on biodiesel in Maharashtra and Andra Pradesh.