How Vodafone Germany Slashed Emissions and Reached Net Zero

Can telecoms networks expand without driving up energy consumption?

It is one of the defining energy challenges for the sector as operators scale infrastructure to support AI services and rapidly rising data demand.

Vodafone argues that the solution lies not in building bigger networks, but in making them significantly more energy efficient.

The company is embedding energy optimisation into its network strategy, from AI-driven power management and next-generation radio equipment to battery storage trials and renewable-powered sites.

This strategy has already delivered a key milestone.

Vodafone Germany has become the group’s first European market to reach net zero emissions from its own operations, marking a major step in its broader energy transition.

Joakim Reiter, Vodafone Group Chief External & Corporate Affairs Officer, says on LinkedIn: "Tackling climate change requires action across every part of our business. At Vodafone, that means turning ambition into measurable progress."

This milestone follows a 93% reduction in Scope 1 and 2 emissions since 2020, with remaining emissions addressed through carbon dioxide removal investments.

Across its operations, Vodafone continues to match 100% of purchased grid electricity with renewable sources.

This is achieved through power purchase agreements (PPAs) and renewable energy certificates, supporting targets of net zero operations across Europe by 2028 and Africa by 2035.

Driving energy efficiency through smarter networks

As network traffic grows, energy efficiency is becoming as critical as capacity expansion.

"We’re also making our networks smarter, deploying next-generation equipment and AI-enabled energy management tools to deliver more connectivity using energy more efficiently," Joakim says.

Vodafone has accelerated deployment of next-generation radio technology designed to reduce power consumption, alongside additional energy-saving features across its infrastructure.

AI-enabled systems are also being scaled to optimise electricity use in real time, adjusting network performance dynamically to reduce waste.

Tackling value chain emissions

Reducing operational emissions is only part of Vodafone’s energy challenge, with the majority of its carbon footprint linked to its wider value chain.

"But the real challenge sits in our value chain, which accounts for 96% of our total emissions," says Joakim.

"That’s why we’ve scaled supplier engagement and onboarded 60% of our strategic suppliers onto a platform to track and accelerate their progress."

As a service provider, most emissions sit beyond Vodafone’s direct control. The company has therefore committed to a Science Based Targets initiative-approved goal to cut value chain emissions by 90% by 2040.

Over the past year, Vodafone has expanded supplier engagement through a dedicated platform that improves emissions tracking and supports faster decarbonisation.

It has also collaborated through the Joint Alliance for Corporate Social Responsibility, helping 46 suppliers identify practical ways to reduce emissions.

Enabling a more flexible energy system

Vodafone is increasingly positioning its network infrastructure as part of the wider energy system.

Joakim says: "We’re testing how our infrastructure can support more flexible, low-carbon energy systems, including battery storage pilots and new approaches to balancing renewable supply and demand."

The company recently led a distributed energy storage pilot in the Czech Republic and launched a similar project in the UK, exploring how grid-connected batteries can stabilise electricity supply as renewable generation grows.

Alongside storage, Vodafone is examining how to shift electricity consumption to periods when renewable energy availability is higher, supporting a more responsive and efficient grid.

Efforts to reduce reliance on fossil fuels are also progressing.

Solar-powered mobile sites are expanding across multiple markets, while South Africa is home to Vodafone’s first virtual wheeling project, enabling renewable electricity from independent producers to be distributed via the grid at scale.

In Mozambique, a hybrid diesel generator control system has been trialled, switching to battery power during outages where possible to cut fuel use while maintaining resilience.

The company is also decarbonising its vehicle fleet, with around a quarter of vehicles purchased and ordered across Europe now electric.

Circularity and energy impact

Energy reduction is only one dimension of Vodafone’s sustainability strategy, with circular economy principles playing a growing role in lowering lifecycle energy demand.

"We’re driving circularity across our business. This year we celebrated collecting one million used mobile devices through our partnership with WWF and redeployed over 99% of devices returned by business customers through our Device Lifecycle Management (‘DLM’) leasing programme," says Joakim.

Vodafone has expanded trade-in, repair and second-life initiatives to extend device lifespans and reduce the energy associated with manufacturing new equipment.

The company met its target of collecting one million used mobile devices through its WWF partnership for reuse, recycling or donation.

For enterprise users, its Device Lifecycle Management leasing programme continues to embed circularity, with more than 99% of returned devices redeployed in 2025.

Vodafone has also launched a pan-European recycling tender aimed at increasing material recovery from retired network equipment and reducing landfill and incineration.

These efforts have been recognised externally.

Vodafone was named on CDP’s ‘A List’ for climate change and awarded an EcoVadis Platinum medal for the second consecutive year, placing it among the top 1% of companies globally for sustainability performance.

"We know there’s more to do, particularly on Scope 3 emissions, but the direction is clear," says Joakim.

"Across our value chain, we will continue to deepen supplier engagement, improve emissions data and scale circular solutions."