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Minimising our carbon footprint

We are committed to reducing our operations’ contribution to climate change.

In mature markets1, we have set a goal to halve our carbon footprint by 2020. In emerging markets2, where our network is rapidly expanding, our goal is to reduce CO2 emissions per network node by 20% by 2015.

Our priority is to reduce carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions from our networks, which account for more than 80% of our footprint. To achieve this we adopt two main approaches: improving efficiency and investing in alternative energy.

Network efficiency
We are working with suppliers to develop and install more efficient components in all new base stations and replace less efficient equipment in existing base stations. Across all our markets, we are rolling out technology such as single RAN base stations (which combine 2G, 3G and 4G where implemented), more efficient power amplifiers, and free cooling (see case study).

Network sharing agreements help to reduce the environmental impact of our networks, as well as relieving pressure on planning authorities and reducing costs. In most cases these are ‘passive’ sharing agreements through which we share sites and infrastructure with other operators, but not network equipment. In some instances we ‘actively’ share network electronics and radio controllers, which deliver energy savings.

Reducing the need for air conditioning at base stations

Air conditioning to prevent network equipment overheating at our base stations is extremely energy intensive. We are rolling out innovative systems to reduce the need for air conditioning.

‘Free cooling’ saves an average of 2,000 kWh a year per base station by using fresh air to cool network equipment. This is the default option at all new base stations. In hot countries, air conditioning is still needed during the day but free cooling can be used at night.

The need for air conditioning is also being reduced by increasing the maximum temperature at which equipment can safely operate by 10°C so cooling systems do not switch on until the cabin temperature reaches 35°C. This may require upgrading equipment to resist higher temperatures by, for example, installing individual battery coolers rather than cooling the whole room. It also means that free cooling can be used in warmer countries.

Alternative energy
Efficiency measures help us reduce the amount of energy used to run the network, but will not eliminate the need for energy completely. Switching to alternative energy sources cuts emissions and reduces our reliance on fossil fuels.

A growing number of our base stations run on renewable energy, mostly solar power and some wind. In collaboration with our supplier Huawei, we have developed low energy ‘no frills’ base stations that provide coverage to rural communities using solar energy.

Alternative energy sources are most viable for sites in emerging markets, where they help us expand our reach to remote areas and provide power where grid supplies may be unavailable or unreliable. These sites would otherwise depend on high-carbon diesel generators either for primary or back-up power.

Our hybrid power systems use smart controls to cut diesel use by up to 70% by combining a diesel generator with a battery to store power when running. For sites with higher power requirements, batteries can be supplemented with solar and wind power.

As we roll out more on-site renewable power, we are also exploring options to use our network to provide not just telecommunications services but clean energy to remote communities. This brings climate benefits, by replacing carbon-intensive fossil fuels, and provides an opportunity for us to contribute to development.

Data centre efficiency
Our data centres – which account for just under 10% of our network CO2 emissions – must become more efficient to reduce energy use and handle increasing traffic as mobile internet and other data applications become more popular.

Our two main data centres in Germany and Ireland have achieved third-party certifications for energy efficiency. We are also implementing efficiency measures at our regional data centre in Italy and other smaller data centres in local markets. These include:

  • Installing more efficient hardware
  • Reducing the number of physical servers needed to store the same or more data through ‘virtualisation’ activities
  • Cutting energy needed for air-conditioning by, for example, reorganising equipment to create ‘cool aisles’ to circulate cool air better.

Business travel
Our employees often need to meet with colleagues in other markets. We are working to reduce the need for business travel – and associated greenhouse gas emissions – by equipping our offices with state-of-the-art technology to enable our people to communicate and work together.

We have created a way to combine the internal voice, data and video applications that employees use into one online experience so they can contact each other through voice, video, instant messaging or web conferencing programs by simply clicking their colleague’s name on their PC.

As a multinational business, it is difficult for us to eliminate business travel completely, so we are also investigating the use of carbon offsetting.

Vodafone UK cuts business flights by 26%

Vodafone UK has exceeded conservation organisation WWF’s One in Five Challenge to UK companies by cutting more than one in four business flights. In 2010/11, WWF announced our achievement, having audited our travel data from 2008/09.

They found Vodafone UK had avoided 617 tonnes of CO2 from business flights in 2008/09, compared with 2007/08, by encouraging employees to meet ‘virtually’ rather than travelling to meetings. Using our own technology to enable videoconferencing and online collaboration solutions, we avoided a total of 3,749 business flights and 2.46 million kilometres of air travel by taking part in the challenge. This is a 26.1% reduction overall. As well as cutting CO2 emissions, we saved money, reducing our travel budget by almost a third. Less travel time is also helping to improve productivity and employee wellbeing by enabling a better work-life balance.

1 Target baseline: 2006/07. Mature markets defined as those obligated under the Kyoto Protocol: Czech Republic, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Ireland, Italy, the Netherlands, New Zealand, Portugal, Romania, Spain and the UK
2 Target baseline: 2010/11. Emerging markets defined as those not obligated under the Kyoto Protocol: Albania, Egypt, Ghana, Vodafone Essar in India, Malta, Qatar, South Africa and Turkey