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The potential of information and communication
technologies (ICT) to have a positive impact on climate
change has been recognized by many global
studies, such as the work of The Climate Group on
the “SMART 2020”1 report of 2008 with the Global
e-Sustainability Initiative (GeSI), and “Mobile’s Green
Manifesto,”2 produced in collaboration with GSMA
in 2009. However, this understanding has to be
brought to the attention of governments so that they
take the role of ICT into consideration when defining
environmental policies and those for sustainable
development.
Energy efficiency is a key focus
The ICT industry is taking serious measures to
improve its own energy efficiency, but it is imperative
that attention is also turned to the benefits that
ICT can bring to other business sectors. In line with
this thinking, Nokia Siemens Networks recently announced
that it is using its existing portfolio, combined
with new partnerships, to address opportunities
in the energy sector. Energy producers can
benefit from the technologies and expertise of the
telecommunication sector and apply it to make power
grids more intelligent and efficient — thereby enabling
whole economies to use less energy.
For example, we are collaborating with Irish software
company ServusNet to help wind farm operators
optimize generation and delivery of energy from
a renewable source. A customer of ServusNet might
have multiple wind farms distributed across Europe,
each comprising up to hundreds of turbines. As energy
markets evolve, these operators face increased
competition to supply national or regional grids,
and must guarantee their prices and levels of supply.
ServusNet is carrying out customer trials of their
solution, which is based on Nokia Siemens Networks
Open Element Management System (OES) Suite, in
order to raise the productivity and efficiency of wind
farms. It also improves the predictability of their energy
supplies, thus optimizing energy generation.
Bringing the intelligence of ICT networks into the
energy sector can bring such benefits as the management
of energy consumption in real time, distributed
generation using renewable energy sources, and
optimization of generation versus use of energy. For
this reason, we are involved in various research programmes
and initiatives concerning smart grids. For
example, in the Nordic region the company is working
with fourteen others, including leading energy
and network companies and a number of research
institutions.
Stephan Scholz spoke on the topic of ICT
and climate change as part of the ITU
programme of business talks at the United Nations Climate Change Conference, held in
Copenhagen, Denmark, in December 2009.
“ICT is fundamental to measuring — and
directly improving — energy efficiency across
all industries, including its own, which makes
it different from all other industry sectors”,
he said. In a demonstration of one aspect of
this potential, Mr Scholz gave his presentation
at the “iseeT@the Climate Change Kiosk” via
telepresence from Finland
We are also constantly working on minimizing our
own and our customers’ carbon footprints. Around
86 per cent of energy used by a mobile operator is
consumed by its network, and energy is a significant
percentage of a service provider’s operating costs. In
mature markets it accounts for up to 10 per cent of
costs, while in developing markets it can range from
15 to 30 per cent. The solutions offered by Nokia
Siemens Networks are designed to reduce network
operating costs and lower the power consumption of
telecommunication networks. The range of solutions
consists of elements that target specific areas of network
energy consumption, management and sourcing.
They also allow for the profitable and efficient
expansion of networks in rural and remote areas by
eliminating the need for diesel generators to power
base stations, providing a more cost-efficient and environmentally
friendly way to extend connectivity.
Expanding connectivity
Mobile telecommunication providers Telenor
Pakistan and Zain recently signed contracts with
Nokia Siemens Networks to build off-grid solar-powered
sites for communication facilities in Pakistan and
in East African countries. So far, our company has deployed
more than 390 sites running on renewable energy
in 25 countries in the Asia-Pacific region, China,
Europe, the Middle East, Africa and Latin America.
By 2011, renewable energy will be our first choice
for powering base stations in remote and rural areas.
The potential investment in energy improvements
across the world’s telecommunication networks is
of the order of many billions of euros — but with a
return on investment measured in just a few years,
not decades. All told, the telecommunication industry
has the key to uniting people and businesses to
meet 21st century environmental standards. Now it
also has the tools to play its own part in the energy
stakes.
1 “SMART 2020: Enabling the low carbon economy in the information age”, The Climate Group, 2008.
2 “Mobile’s Green Manifesto”, The Climate Group, 2009.
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