Vodafone Germany has announced a new initiative to increase its use of self-produced energy through solar power. The plan aligns with Vodafone’s goal to achieve CO2e-neutrality in its direct and indirect emissions by 2025. The project will see all suitable mobile phone stations and regional data centres in the fixed network equipped with solar panels by the end of 2025.
Once fully operational, the solar panels will generate enough energy annually to charge a small electric car nearly 28,000 times, covering a distance of about 6 million kilometres. This sustainable energy initiative will help Vodafone reduce reliance on external energy sources while contributing to a greener energy mix.
The initial rollout will begin with 86 network sites, in partnership with solar power specialist Sonnenkraft. Each site will have to feature a photovoltaic system with a capacity of 398 kWp, enabling mobile and landline stations to operate independently at times by relying on solar energy. Vodafone plans to double the number of equipped sites to 200 by the end of the financial year.
This solar power initiative is part of a larger strategy by Vodafone to cut CO2 emissions through technological innovations. Alongside solar panels, Vodafone has introduced wind turbines at select mobile phone sites and a dynamic energy-saving function that reduces energy consumption based on real-time demand. Since implementing dynamic energy-saving mode in 2022, the company has saved enough energy annually to power up to 3,000 households.
