Comcast aims to double its network energy efficiency by 2030. The company made the announcement at the SCTE Cable Tec Expo 2022 conference, which is being held this week in Philadelphia.
If achieved, the move will reduce electricity used per terabyte by half. Comcast says that the reduction is the result of virtualized platforms that feature more centralized locations for headends, hubs and data centers and use of more efficient technologies that cut hardware space and energy requirements.
Comcast’s goal is to be carbon neutral by 2035 for scope 1 and scope 2 emissions across its global footprint. Scope 1 and 2 are direct and indirect emissions that a company owns and controls.
Comcast purchased renewable energy certificates and gave them to the Society of Cable Telecommunications Engineers to power the conference.
“The smart technologies powering our new network architecture are transforming how data is delivered, providing the industry’s best combination of speed, coverage, and control – all more sustainably,” Charlie Herrin, the President of Technology for Product, Experience, for Comcast Cable, said in a press release about the Comcast energy efficiency goal.
Telecommunications companies are voracious users of energy and, therefore, are active in trying to reduce usage and find alternative sources.
In March, Comcast said that it had agreed to purchase 250 megawatts of solar energy from Constellation. The energy is enough to power about 12% of its U.S. operations, including most of its mid-Atlantic operations.
Other providers are active as well.
In February, A&T said it would buy 155 MW of renewable solar energy to help reach its goal of net zero greenhouse gas emissions across its global footprint by 2035. The deal announced were two virtual power purchase agreements with Vitol for solar projects in Maryland and Pennsylvania.
Also in February, T-Mobile said that it had met its goal for all of its energy to be from renewable resources by the end of 2021. The company had made the pledge in 2018.
