New solar energy system helps Vodacom save some money
July 18, 2013Solar energy holds financial benefits for Vodacom
Vodacom, a leading telecommunications company based in Africa, has been making moves to reduce the carbon emissions it is responsible for. The company has been feeling pressure for international governments to do so for some time and has been growing more accommodating of renewable energy in order to curb the emissions it produces. Vodacom is currently involved in a solar energy project that is based at its offices in Cape Town, South Africa, and this project has achieved promising financial success thus far.
New system helps save $650,000
The solar energy system is part of Vodacom’s overarching endeavor to move away from fossil-fuels and make use of renewable energy. By 2020, the company aims to reduce its carbon emissions by at least 50%. Renewable energy also presents certain economic benefits for the company as clean power systems can replace the need for fossil-fuels, which are becoming increasingly expensive. Thus far, the solar system recently activated by Vodacom has saved the company approximately $650,000 in energy costs.
Emissions reduction becoming a priority
Vodacom is not only interested in solar energy, of course. The company has been adopting several energy efficiency policies that will help reduce its overall consumption of electrical power. Lower consumption is likely to help curb emissions further. Currently, Vodacom’s emissions in 2013 are expected to register at 544,000 metric tons, a 5% increase over the emissions the company had produced in 2012. Vodacom aims to reduce its emissions by an average of 5% every year for the foreseeable future.
Solar energy becoming a more economical option
Like other forms of clean power, solar energy has become an attractive subject for large businesses because of the economic prospects that it represents. Large companies are typically aggressive consumers of fossil-fuels, which must be purchased before it can be used. These businesses must compete with other large consumers and typically lose priority for fossil-fuels against governments around the world. Renewable energy is quickly becoming a less expensive option for these companies.