Telco giant TPG Telecom, one of Australia’s top energy users, has dialled up its clean energy ambition and committed to power its Australian operations with 100% renewable electricity by 2025.TPG Telecom, which owns major communications and technology brands including Vodafone, AAPT and iiNet, is estimated to consume well over 200,000 MWh of electricity each year. It is the second major telecommunications company to commit to 100% renewable electricity, following Telstra making the switch last year.
Lindsay Soutar, REenergise campaign director at Greenpeace Australia Pacific, said TPG Telecom switching to clean energy shows that Australia’s telcos are getting the message on emissions reduction.
“TPG Telecom has heard the clean energy call, and significantly dialled up its ambition by committing to 100% renewable electricity by 2025,” she said.
“Many people don’t realise that telecommunications is one of our most energy intensive industries, especially when you factor in the data centres that provide the internet services we rely on every day.”
“By 2025 TPG Telecom alone will use enough electricity to power all the homes in Darwin, and Australia’s big telecommunications, data centre and tech companies, including Optus, Telstra and NextDC, together use more electricity than all the homes in Adelaide.”
“In the post-Covid world, Australians are relying on the internet more than ever, with data centres sucking up ever more electricity. That’s why companies like TPG Telecom making the switch to renewable electricity is so important – we can stay connected without trashing the climate.”
Globally, tech and communications companies were some of the earliest corporate adopters of renewable energy, with tech giants such as Google, Apple and Microsoft switching their data centres to run on 100% renewable electricity and Google setting global records for renewable energy investment.
School student Natasha Abhayawickrama, 17, said that switching to a renewable-powered telco was a way for young people worried about climate change to make a difference.
“My generation has grown up with phones and the internet in constant use, but no one ever talks about how the data we use every day is fuelling the climate crisis,” she said.
“As a young person, it can feel hard to make a difference in the face of the climate change – but switching to a mobile and internet provider that runs on 100% renewable electricity is an easy choice that I can make that makes a real impact on lowering emissions.”
Greenpeace Australia Pacific is now urging Optus to commit to 100% renewable electricity by 2025.
“TPG Telecom and Telstra have set the pace for Australia’s green telco revolution – and it’s time for Optus to commit to 100% renewable electricity too, or risk being left behind.”
Greenpeace Australia Pacific is also calling on TPG Telecom to immediately sign up to the RE100 initiative of global corporates leading on the shift to 100% renewable electricity.
For more information contact Fiona Ivits on 0487 003 872 or [email protected]
