Reducing emissions in our operations
We are committed to halving our environmental impact by 2025.
In July 2019, Vodafone committed to setting a Science Based Target over the next year which is aligned to limiting global temperature rise to below 1.5°C and reaching net-zero emissions no later than 2050. This will require a significant reduction in our direct carbon emissions as well as setting targets for indirect emissions (including suppliers and joint ventures). We are also part of a GSMA taskforce that has defined the emission reduction pathway for the telecoms industry.
In recognition of our governance on GHG emissions, this year Vodafone moved to an A- from a B in the latest CDP rating. Our latest CDP assessment can be accessed here.
Our 2025 goals
To reduce our GHG emissions by 50%
To purchase 100% of the electricity we use from renewable sources
39%
increase anticipated in mobile internet users between 2018 and 2025
Data growth
Mobile data continues to rise at a rapid rate.
It is predicted that by 2022:
- global mobile data traffic will be over 100 times the volume in 2012;
- global mobile data traffic will account for 20% of global total IP (fixed and mobile data) traffic, up from 9% in 2017;
- the number of devices connected to IP networks will be more than three times the global population;
And that by 2025:
- Internet of Things connections will reach over 25 billion, up from 9 billion in 2018.
Our GHG emissions
Vodafone GHG emissions (milliontonnes CO2e) (market-based method)
Notwithstanding ever-growing use of data and expansion of our networks, this year our total GHG emissions decreased by 9% to 1.84 million tonnes of CO2e (carbon dioxide equivalent), predominantly due to an increase in the proportion of renewable electricity purchased. We continued to improve our overall energy efficiency during the year and achieved a 38.5% reduction in the amount of GHG emissions per petabyte (‘PB’) of mobile data carried, to reach an average of 230 tonnes CO2e per PB (2019: 374)
We are also working to analyse our Scope 3 emissions, which are the indirect emissions over which we have no direct control, but may be able to influence. They include emissions from our suppliers when providing us with goods and services, emissions from our joint ventures over which we do not have operational control, and emissions associated with the use of our products and services by our customers.
Our efforts to reduce Scope 3 emissions are concentrated where we believe we can make the biggest impact: joint venture businesses, our suppliers and business travel.
We will meet our targets through a combination of further investment in energy efficiency initiatives across our networks, particularly in power supply and cooling, and moving towards purchasing 100% of our electricity from renewable sources.
Optimising our energy consumption through efficiency measures
As customer demand for data continues to grow at a rapid rate, ever-greater demands are placed on our access networks and technology centres. We are prioritising new and existing measures to increase our energy efficiency in order to reduce the GHG emissions associated with our operations.
We are committed to improving energy efficiency of our base station sites and in our technology (data and switching) centres, which together account for 95% of our total global energy consumption. During 2020, we invested €77 million capital expenditure in energy efficiency and renewable projects across our business, which has led to annual energy savings of 186 GWh. Our energy efficiency initiatives are focused on three key areas:
- sourcing and implementing more efficient network equipment
- reducing energy demand by installing lower-energy power and cooling technologies
- cutting energy use by decommissioning and replacing legacy equipment.
Vodafone energy use (GWh)
| Our base station sites | Our technology centres | Our offices | Our retail stores | |
| 2018 | 3,627 | 1,538 | 301 | 55 |
| 2019 | 3,665 | 1,540 | 277 | 46 |
| 2020 | 3,810 | 1,430 | 256 | 45 |
The amount of energy our business uses varies across our operations
Our Solutions
Optimising our power-intensive equipment
We work with our equipment vendors to ensure that increased demand and business growth do not result in a similar percentage increase in electricity usage.
Using adiabatic cooling solutions in hot climates
We have been using free-air cooling systems in many of our technology centres for several years. They are more cost and energy efficient than conventional air conditioning solutions but are not always effective in hot climates. To address this limitation, we are introducing adiabatic cooling systems.
Increasing integration of renewable energy into national grids
The expansion of renewable energy sources for on-grid electricity generation is a critical aspect of efforts to mitigate climate change. However, two of the most common renewable sources – wind and solar photovoltaic generation – fluctuate in efficiency depending on weather conditions.
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Read more »
Optimising our power-intensive equipment
We work with our equipment vendors to ensure that increased demand and business growth do not result in a similar percentage increase in electricity usage.
-
Read more »
Using adiabatic cooling solutions in hot climates
We have been using free-air cooling systems in many of our technology centres for several years. They are more cost and energy efficient than conventional air conditioning solutions but are not always effective in hot climates. To address this limitation, we are introducing adiabatic cooling systems.
-
Read more »
Increasing integration of renewable energy into national grids
The expansion of renewable energy sources for on-grid electricity generation is a critical aspect of efforts to mitigate climate change. However, two of the most common renewable sources – wind and solar photovoltaic generation – fluctuate in efficiency depending on weather conditions.
Moving to 100% renewable electricity
We rely on on-grid power sources for 95% of our energy needs. To date, the proportion of our electricity from renewable sources has been low, accounting for just 15% of the electricity purchased. Our new goal will help us to drive the use of an ever-increasing amount of renewable energy over the coming years.
During the year 25.9% of our electricity used was from renewable sources (2019: 15.6%). This year we launched sourcing activities for Power Purchase Agreement (‘PPA’) contracts, notably in the UK and Spain.
In addition, Germany, Romania, Greece and Hungary all sourced Renewable Energy Certificates (‘RECs’) or tariffs for the first time during the year.
2020 Vodafone energy use by source (GWh)
Our contribution to the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)
Our approach is contributing to SDGs:
SDG 7
Ensure access to affordable, reliable, sustainable and modern energy for all.
SDG 13
Take urgent action to combat climate change and its impacts.
SDG 8
(our primary focus)
Promote sustained, inclusive and sustainable economic growth, full and productive employment and decent work for all.
Our commitments to reduce our GHG emissions, move to renewable electricity sources and improve our energy efficiency particularly support SDG 13, which is focused on climate action, and SDG 7, which includes a focus on clean energy.
We believe we can have the greatest impact on five of the UN SDGs through our networks, products and services and through the work of the Vodafone Foundation.
Learn more about our environmental impact
Enabling customers to reduce their emissions
Helping customers to manage their energy use more efficiently and in turn reduce their emissions.
Enabling customers to reduce their emissions
Helping customers to manage their energy use more efficiently and in turn reduce their emissions.
Download our Sustainable Business Report 2019
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Sustainable Business Report 2019
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