In the last year, global mobile operators have made progress in increasing the use of renewable energy in their networks, according to new figures from the GSMA, a global mobile operator association. European networks led the way by purchasing an average of 71 percent renewable energy. Continued progress will require increasing access to renewable energy by reducing regulatory barriers, supporting market-based mechanisms and incentivising investment in new renewable power, according to the GSMA.
Renewable energy access is still characterized by disparities. Although mobile networks in 41 of the 86 countries surveyed use more than 75 percent renewable energy, almost one third of mobile networks use less than 25 percent renewable energy, according to the GSMA Access to Renewable Energy Policy Paper.
“Operators in Europe and North America have been able to both access and scale up the amount of renewable electricity used to power their networks in recent years,” the study said. “In contrast, accessing renewable electricity is still a challenge in many countries, shown by lower market-based regional figures across Africa, the Middle East, Asia and South America.”
Access to an additional 64 terawatt-hours of renewable electricity – roughly equivalent to Austria’s annual energy usage – will be required by operators globally by 2030, as they seek to decarbonize their energy supplies, according to the study.
“Given the scale of demand, the GSMA calls for greater collaboration between the private and public sector to expand the renewable energy infrastructure needed to hit our net zero ambitions,” said John Giusti, Chief Regulatory Officer at the GSMA. “This will require reducing regulatory barriers, supporting market-based mechanisms to access renewable electricity and incentivising investment in new renewable power generation.”
Initiatives such as Vodafone’s recently-announced power purchasing agreement to buy renewable energy generated by three new solar farms in the U.K., have shown that coordinated action with national policymakers and energy generators is possible. Th varied efforts ensure that more renewable energy can be rapidly added to electricity grids over the next decade, according to Joakim Reiter, Vodafone Chief External & Corporate Affairs Officer.
“After switching Vodafone’s European networks and operations to renewable energy, we are also making important strides in Africa. But accelerating the industry’s transition to renewables everywhere, in a more equitable way, will require significantly greater cooperation between the public and private sector.”
By J. Sharpe Smith, Inside Towers Technology Editor
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