UPDATE French telecom giant Orange has outlined several power-saving measures as the company looks to combat the growing energy crisis that is set to grip Europe this winter, according to Data Center Dynamics. Orange’s position follows recent assessments highlighting that European wireline and mobile network operators likely could face a bleak winter with blackouts as energy producers ration supplies, as Inside Towers reported.
These potential power issues have been fueled by Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, with Russia deciding to halt gas deliveries via Europe’s key supply route in the wake of this conflict. Orange has responded by confirming that it will cut 5 to 10 percent of its instantaneous electricity consumption for one hour per day. It says that switching to battery backup for that interval at several thousand fixed network sites can help to save up to 20 megawatts.
The company makes clear that such measures will have no negative impact on users, however. One example is a move it has implemented since September 1, where Orange is now switching off window lighting in its retail stores within 30 minutes after closing.
Such steps are necessary to “avoid load shedding measures this winter,” emphasizes Orange CEO Christel Heydemann. “In an uncertain geopolitical and economic context, we share the French government’s concerns and we have developed a concrete plan to support the national energy-saving initiative,” Heydemann says. “By offering to cut consumption at several thousand technical sites for one hour, we will reduce our instantaneous power requirements by up to 10 percent, without impacting the service offered to users.”
A number of MNOs and tower companies are considering greater use of renewable energy sources such as solar and wind at tower sites as a way to reduce their power bills and reliance on the electric grid. Operators including Vodafone, Telstra, Deutsche Telekom, and Latvia’s LMT are investing in renewable energy projects.
Data centers are some of the biggest commercial power users. Among Europe’s big data center operators, Equinix and Digital Realty have increased their diesel reserves in preparation for potential grid and fuel supply issues. Equinix normally keeps fuel tanks filled to 60 percent capacity but is now raising that to 90 percent across many of its sites.
According to the Financial Times, U.K. telecom company BT said that it was not currently seeking more backup power for the winter but was assessing which of its non-critical hardware could be switched off. Nonetheless, one of the U.K.’s largest equipment rental groups is stockpiling extra diesel generators in anticipation of high demand going into winter.
By John Celentano, Inside Towers Business Editor
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