Many see 5G as an important stimulus for digitalization. But what do the new standards mean for the environment? Can the coming 5G era shape a more sustainable future? Or will this technology help the global movement towards a sustainable future? Will it prove to be an obstacle to the quest? Detecon’s Christian Maasem and Shivam Gupta share their vision.
The new 5th generation mobile communications standard has been hailed as one of the most promising technologies today. 5G is a flexible, robust, and easily scalable networking technology that supports a wide range of application scenarios and is a key stimulus for digitalization.
But what impact will the introduction of 5G have on our environment? With climate change becoming a global issue, the impact of 5G on sustainable development is the subject of intense debate. I am.
A representative study by the digital association Bitkom confirms the assumption that the digitalization of industry offers great potential for reducing CO2 emissions. The results show that by accelerating the use of digital technologies, Germany alone could prevent as much as 64 million tonnes of CO2 emissions by 2030, far above the 2030 climate change targets. This corresponds to 17% of the total CO2 reduction by 2017.
When it comes to these highly efficient and automated work processes powered by digital technology, 5G will serve as an enabler for the transformation to Industry 4.0.
More data = more emissions?
5G does more than just offer higher data transmission speeds. It also uses energy much more efficiently than previous products. A study by STL Partners shows that 5G mobile sites require only about 15 percent of the energy consumed by 4G mobile sites to transmit the same amount of data, so a faster transition to 5G will help the world It is concluded that approximately 500 million tons of CO2 can be saved. This equates to a nearly 80% reduction in carbon emissions and a nearly one-third reduction in operating costs through the use of 5G technology.
A study by the University of Zurich concludes that 5G networks will emit approximately 85 percent less emissions per unit of data transferred than current mobile networks in 2030.
With more than 100 5G networks launched around the world during this time, the energy savings will be huge. Even if the amount of data transmitted increases exponentially, mobile network operators and telecommunications companies may well succeed in reducing power consumption and associated CO2 emissions.
However, please be careful. The numbers only represent the direct potential of the technology. The opportunities and consequences associated with its use are far more important. Indirectly, it can have an even stronger impact on the sustainability dimension known as “ICT for Green.”
Sustainable activities using 5G
5G technology and its use as an ecosystem has the potential to improve the sustainability of business processes in many ways. Application fields are wide-ranging. There are countless application opportunities in almost every field, from development and production to logistics and sales.
Increase efficiency through automation
5G networks can help increase the effectiveness and efficiency of work processes by supporting applications that drive broader automation and greater transparency on the manufacturing floor. As a result, companies can scale their processes more easily, adapt more quickly to changing conditions, and reduce operating costs through reduced energy consumption.
Additionally, 5G can take over the management of various use cases and, in some cases, take over the functionality of some previous systems, which directly and indirectly reduces CO2 emissions.
Smart cities and smart buildings
40% of the world’s energy consumption is used for heating, lighting, cooling, and other processes in buildings. Thanks to 5G networks, it will be possible to interconnect and automate urban infrastructure such as traffic management, power supply, building management, and waste disposal. Resources can be used more efficiently and emissions can be further reduced.
Smart buildings equipped with 5G networks can also save energy and reduce carbon emissions. One practical example of this is the Empire State Building in New York. Sensors and meters are installed in buildings that can measure and optimize energy consumption. Using input from these automated meters and sensors to control the system reduced energy costs by nearly 40% and reduced the building’s carbon footprint by more than 100,000 tons in less than a year.
mobility
Mobility is another area where 5G networks can be a source of sustainability improvements. The interconnection between a vehicle and its surroundings (other vehicles, infrastructure, pedestrians, etc.) limits the amount of braking and acceleration, with an estimated 15-20% potential to reduce carbon emissions .
Optimized customer experience
5G-connected devices can create a company’s marketing strategy featuring a more immersive experience using VR and AR technology, which does not require any physical products. Reduce the carbon footprint associated with manufacturing and distributing promotional products.
Renewable energy integration
5G technology provides rapid access to information about energy consumption patterns and the integration of renewable energy for green operations. It can limit dependence on fossil fuels and carbon emissions associated with energy consumption. According to a report by the International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA), targeted and smart use of renewable energy can reduce carbon emissions by up to 70%.
smart logistics
5G allows companies to track and monitor their supply chains in real-time. Increased transparency not only reduces waste and allows for early response to disruptions, but also provides other benefits. For example, sensors monitor temperature, humidity and other ambient conditions during transport to ensure optimal delivery of products. IoT-enabled supply chain management systems can reduce inventory by up to 30% and increase supply chain efficiency by up to 50%.
predictive maintenance
5G can also be used to monitor equipment and machinery in real time, reducing downtime and the need for expensive repairs. Energy consumption associated with equipment repairs and parts replacement is also reduced. Predictive maintenance reduces energy consumption by up to 10%, reduces maintenance costs by up to 30%, and increases system availability by up to 20%.
supplier management
5G will help companies more accurately track supplier performance commitments along the supply chain and reduce the risk of unethical practices and unsustainable activities. For example, companies using hyperconnected systems can ensure that their suppliers comply with sustainability standards. This is one of the means to reduce the carbon footprint associated with unsustainable supply chain practices.
According to a CDP report, supplier management efforts could reduce carbon emissions by perhaps 1.5 million tonnes per year.
circular economy
5G technology will enable companies to adopt circular economy principles in their supply chains, reducing the need for new resource extraction and disposal. For example, companies can use interconnected systems to track and manage product returns and reuse, reducing carbon emissions associated with waste and the extraction of new resources.
A report from the Ellen MacArthur Foundation says circular economy principles could reduce carbon emissions by up to 9.3 billion tonnes a year.
Sustainability also means competitiveness
These are just a few examples of how businesses can act sustainably when using 5G. New mobile communication standards are the foundation for increased transparency and more comprehensive automation, aimed at increasing the efficiency of existing processes and consolidating the functionality of multiple systems operating in parallel into one. .
Another advantage of 5G is that it accelerates the testing and production launch of new use cases, along with the initial benefits of leveraging further potential savings from digitalization and data-driven hyperconnectivity.
About the author: Christian Maasem is a partner and head of the hyperconnectivity practice at Detecon. Shivam Gupta is a consultant at Detecon and an expert in sustainable digitalization.
