As Africa embraces the digital age, and demand for robust, reliable digital connectivity rapidly increases, the continent’s energy challenges are negatively affecting mobile network operators and their customers.

Despite an abundance of renewable energy sources, such as solar, wind and hydropower, half of the continent’s population – about 600-million people, mostly in sub- Saharan Africa – lacks access to clean electricity, says Vodacom Group chief technology officer Dejan Kastelic.

While Africa faces many challenges in its renewable-energy journey, there is a considerable opportunity to accelerate the adoption of renewables, modernise power infrastructure and improve connectivity, while also making significant contributions to global climate change mitigation efforts.

Further, mobile network operators can actively participate in developing and implementing innovative solutions while working with governments and other private-sector partners to prioritise investments in energy infrastructure, focusing on sustainable and renewable sources.

Traditionally, mobile network operators’ highest energy consumption comes from base station sites, with thousands spread throughout the continent.

“For example, our base station sites and technology centres account for 95% of our energy consumption, emphasising the need to prioritise larger-scale off-grid renewable electricity generation to decarbonise, owing to the distributed nature of mobile networks,” he explains.

Driving energy efficiencies and managing energy consumption across mobile networks by upgrading legacy equipment, prioritising energy-efficient cooling technologies and designing fit-for-purpose energy-efficient sites can help reduce costs and greenhouse-gas (GHG) emissions.

In addition, seeking clean, affordable energy alternatives to diesel-powered generators, such as wind and solar power, and technologies such as green-hydrogen-fuelled microturbines and fuel cells, can help to maintain connectivity while transitioning the industry towards a more sustainable future.

Diesel-powered generators are often used as a primary or secondary source of power generation, especially in remote areas or when grid-supplied electricity is unreliable, and if power interruptions increase, so does mobile operators’ fossil fuel consumption, with hundreds of millions of litres of diesel used each year to power their infrastructure.

“Solar and wind solutions are well advanced from a development perspective but, owing to the intermittentness of the solutions, they provide significant challenges in providing power 24/7. Green fuels, microturbines and green hydrogen solutions can be significantly more expensive and require large capital investments and scale for feasibility,” says Kastelic.

Vodacom, which aims to achieve net-zero GHG emissions from its operations, classified as scope 1 and 2, by 2035 and to match 100% of the grid electricity it uses with energy from renewable sources by 2025, is looking to scale its on-site solar to align with global efforts to mitigate climate change, while ensuring the resilience of critical communication infrastructure.

“As of March 2024, we had 1 773 sites powered by solar energy across our group. Our new rural base stations prioritise being entirely solar-powered or deployed as a hybrid solution using solar and grid and, as a last resort, diesel generators where grid is not available. We have also tested the feasibility of self- replenishing fuel cell technology and microgrids for alternative energy sources,” he continues.

“Further, we are finding innovative ways to ensure the communities we serve can access affordable renewable energy and benefit from transformative connectivity.”

He cites a partnership, in Mozambique, between Vodacom, M-Pesa and ENGIE Energy Access.

The partnership’s initiative, MySol, is a pay-as-you-go solar home system which comprises two LED bulbs and phone charging capabilities for the “price of one candle a day”.

By March 2024, the initiative had reached about 217 968 households, impacting more than one-million people.

In the long term, Kastelic explains, power purchase agreements can provide a mechanism to procure renewable electricity, usually at a lower cost, from independent power producers (IPPs).

“Working with governments to change regulations and allow for renewable independent power production, mobile network operators can help facilitate opportunities to modernise infrastructure and power generation. “This can enable renewable power purchasing in Africa and build a more accessible market for clean energy access where it was previously not possible.”

Following an agreement with government to supply power from its renewable projects, 65% of Vodafone Egypt’s electricity consumption is now sourced from renewable energy.

A landmark virtual wheeling agreement with State-owned power utility Eskom in South Africa enables Vodacom to procure large-scale renewable energy from IPPs, underpinned by a virtual wheeling platform developed by Vodacom subsidiary Mezzanine.

“This will help to contribute renewable power to the national grid and enable us to progressively offset our Scope 2 emissions from our own operations,” he says.

He concludes that collaboration plays a pivotal role in amplifying the impact and progress of these clean energy initiatives.

“There continues to be scope for private- public collaboration to accelerate Africa’s renewable energy potential, meet the Sustainable Development Goals, and ensure inclusive access to essential energy services. As drivers of innovation, mobile network operators continue to play a significant role in overcoming the challenges of the continent’s energy predicament and connecting the continent to a better future.”