It is almost as important for 5G deployers to establish their green credentials as their capabilities in data speeds and enterprise use cases, especially as concern mounts that dense networks with Massive MIMO antenna arrays could boost power consumption as well as emissions.
The efficiencies of the 5G radio itself will not, it seems likely, be enough on their own to compensate for the larger volumes of network elements, users and traffic. But a combination of new energy sources, and AI-enabled smart power management for base stations, will help operators to achieve their environmental targets. And many operators are also adopting broader programs, across all their activities, to move towards carbon neutrality.
Three examples emerged in the past week’s news. First, the UK’s BT launched two new programs to help move to the ultimate goal of net-zero carbon emissions by 2045. The telco has been working with Silicon Valley venture capital firm Plug and Play, to scout the most promising technologies from UK start-ups that could help with the transition to net-zero.
The first areas of focus will be:
- Smart streets – insights from environmental monitoring and traffic optimization sensors integrated into street furniture such as BT Street Hubs
- Smart buildings – IoT solutions supporting energy and water management in social housing and public sector buildings
- Remote working – reduce travel and support home working, a requirement thrown in the spotlight by the Covid-19 lockdowns, through technologies like AR/VR for remote repairs or health diagnostics.
BT will announce the chosen start-ups this autumn.
Group CEO Philip Jansen said: “As we emerge from the [pandemic] crisis, the recovery presents a huge opportunity for governments, businesses and individuals to put action on climate at the heart of their efforts. We will be playing our part with a once-in-a-generation investment in the UK’s digital infrastructure: full-fiber broadband to 20m premises, as well as our continued investment in 5G mobile.”
BT has also launched The UK Electric Fleets Alliance with non-profit The Climate Group to support electrification, including of its own fleet. BT Group has the second largest commercial fleet in the UK with almost 34,000 vehicles, but only 23 of them are electric.
BT has pledged to become a net-zero carbon emissions business by 2045. It said it reduced its carbon emissions by 18.6% in 2019/20, compared to the year before.
In Finland, MNO Elisa has deployed Nokia’s 5G liquid cooling base station technology to reduce power consumption and cut CO2 emissions. Nokia said Elisa can reduce potential base station site energy costs by 30% and lower emissions by 80% using the liquid cooling AirScale Base Station. The two companies have already introduce the technology for 2G, 3G and 4G base stations.
Around 90% of the energy used by conventional base stations is converted into waste heat, according to Nokia. With liquid cooling, there is the option to convert and reuse that waste heat, enabling the reduced emissions. Compared to traditional air conditioning units for cell sites, liquid-cooled sites can be half the size and 30% lighter, Nokia added.
Elisa has set a target to be carbon neutral by the end of 2020, while Nokia has pledged to reduce emissions from its operations by 41% by 2030.
Finally, Vertical Bridge, the largest privately owned US towerco, says it is the first tower operator to become 100% carbon neutral. The communications infrastructure provider was officially certified in accordance with The Carbon Neutral Protocol.
As part of its efforts, it has adopted more energy efficient and environmentally safer technologies as it upgrades HVACs, aviation lighting systems and generators. It’s also guided field operations teams to be more efficient with travel route planning by completing multiple visits and inspections in a single trip rather than several.
Vertical Bridge owns, operates and master-leases more than 269,000 tower, rooftop, billboard, utility attachment and other site locations for wireless network deployments.