Technology group Vodacom aims to diversify its energy mix, which includes buying electricity needed for its operations from renewable-energy sources, within the next three years as part of its commitment to halve its environmental impact.

With a 2025 target set to accelerate the reduction of its greenhouse-gas (GHG) emissions, this initiative will have a significant impact on Vodacom’s pledge, as electricity consumption is the primary source of the company’s GHG emissions.

“While we honour our purpose to connect the next 100-million people in Africa for a better future, we do believe implementing this should not come at a cost to the environment,” says Vodacom South Africa external affairs director Takalani Netshitenzhe.

“Our new target for energy consumption is one of the many ways we are tackling our own environmental impact, because we understand that South Africa can only transition into a sustainable, climate-resilient, low-emission economy if everyone plays their part.”

Vodacom will continue investing in energy efficient solutions such as solar-powered sites, of which Vodacom currently has 1 088 across its market, as well as continue its focus on buying renewable energy through innovative power purchase agreements (PPAs) with independent power producers.

“In the previous financial year, Vodacom sourced 1 183898 kWh of energy through such PPAs, which helped the technology company save 11971 MWh of electricity, while reducing its GHG emissions by 12272-million tonnes of carbon dioxide equivalent.”

Vodacom’s Internet of Things (IoT) solutions have also bolstered its energy-saving efforts, with IoT-based controls, through subsidiary IoT.nxt, deployed across more than 7 232 of its base stations in South Africa, resulting in a 2.8% decrease in energy consumption in the last financial year.

“Vodacom has also leveraged such technologies across various sectors from agriculture to healthcare, enabling workers to provide their services more sustainably and proactively, as data from smart sensors can be used for predictive modelling to help farmers work around climate change by understanding weather patterns and irrigation needs, for example,” explains Netshitenzhe.

The target will also enable Vodacom to contribute to South Africa’s transition to a low carbon economy and help government achieve its Paris Agreement goal, which requires countries to cut GHG emissions to keep global temperatures below 1.5 °Cor 2 °C above preindustrial levels.

Transitioning to a low-emission economy that can sustainably support both people and the planet is emphasised by the Presidential Climate Commission, a multi-stakeholder body launched by President Cyril Ramaphosa in 2020 to find avenues to address climate change.

“The country’s just transition does not rest solely in government’s hands – it necessitates collaboration of social partners – government, civil society, business and employees,” notes Netshitenzhe, highlighting the responsibility of not leaving anyone behind during the transition to a low carbon economy.

“Climate change must be viewed through the lens of socioeconomic structures.” EN