Vodafone pilots its green future with help from AI

Vodafone UK today announced it is using big data analytics, AI, machine learning and Internet of Things (IoT) technology to optimise the energy efficiency of its network, which accounts for around 95 per cent of the company’s total energy consumption.

Vodafone also announced it has installed its first on-site solar panels at a mobile telephone exchange (MTX) network site in Gloucester. The site, which houses technology used to route phone calls and data to and from mobile devices, will use electricity generated from the solar panels to reduce reliance on the national grid.

Vodafone invests millions of pounds every year on energy efficiency measures and renewable power as it works towards net zero for its UK operations by 2027.

Vodafone is also using a big data analytics platform, developed in-house, to drive energy efficiencies across its 11,500 owned radio base stations. Artificial intelligence and machine learning help energy specialists identify ‘consumption anomalies’ – and parts of the network using more energy than expected. Targeted actions can be then delivered to make the sites more energy efficient.

Another initiative - the Vodafone Smart Sites programme - uses Internet of Things (IoT) and AI on Vodafone’s highest energy consuming radio base stations, enabling it to manage the sites remotely and reduce the need for engineer visits. As of March 2023, 1,300 sites have been connected.

Data from both programmes will be used to optimise future network and energy efficiency planning. On-site power generation is the most efficient in terms of energy consumption and carbon emissions, helping Vodafone improve its energy security and accelerating its shift towards UK-grown renewables.

The installation of 720 solar (PV) panels at its Gloucester MTX site will produce around 240,000kWh of renewable electricity a year, supplying around 12 per cent of the site’s annual energy requirement. The tailored solution involved building the solar panels into the roof tiles (rather than raised above them) to ensure minimal impact on the local area and the protection of the natural beauty of the site.

Vodafone hopes to install rooftop solar PV across a number of additional sites across the UK over the next two years.

Andrea Dona, network director, Vodafone UK, said: “We all recognise the need to drive energy efficiencies, both from a financial and environmental perspective. The fact we’ve been able to decouple the link between data carried, energy consumption and carbon emissions is thanks to our laser-focus on energy efficiency – and nowhere is this more important than across our network.”

“Using our own technologies to deliver brilliant programmes such as big data and Smart Sites is hugely impactful. Onsite power generation is another important ambition, and I’m delighted we now have our first on site solar up and running on our Gloucester MTX.”

Vodafone UK has been powered by 100 per cent renewable electricity since July 2021; and recently announced a second major corporate solar power purchase agreement (PPA) giving it access to clean, high quality and affordable renewable electricity for the next 10 years and meaning that 44 per cent of its annual energy requirement will come from UK-based renewable power sources by 2025.

By Mark Adair – Correspondent, Bdaily

• Add me on LinkedIn and Twitter to keep up to date
• And follow Bdaily on Facebook, Twitter and LinkedIn
• Submit press releases to editor@bdaily.co.uk for consideration.

Looking to promote your product/service to SME businesses in your region? Find out how Bdaily can help →