Abstract
Due to the rapid expansion of information and communication technology (ICT) usage, the telecommunications industry is faced with a challenge to promote green ICT toward achieving a low-carbon society. One critical obstacle in planning long-term strategies for green ICT is the uncertainty of various external factors, such as consumers’ lifestyle and technological advancement. To tackle this issue, this paper employs a scenario planning method to analyze electricity consumption in the telecommunications industry, where both changes in various external factors and energy-saving measures are assumed. We propose a model to estimate future electricity consumption of the telecommunications industry using a statistical approach. In a case study, we describe four scenarios that differ in the diffusion of ICT and the technological advancement of ICT equipment in order to analyze the electricity consumption in Japan’s telecommunications industry to 2030. The results reveal that the electricity consumption in 2030 becomes 0.7–1.6-times larger than the 2012 level (10.7 TWh/year). It is also shown that the most effective measures to reduce the electricity consumption include improving the energy efficiency of IP (Internet Protocol) communication equipment and mobile communication equipment.
Highlights
The usage of information and communication technology (ICT) is widely recognized as a means of improving energy efficiency to address climate change across the world [1,2]
To solve the above research question, this paper aims at describing scenarios to analyze a possible range of electricity consumptions by assuming a variety of uncertain external factors associated with the telecommunications industry, as well as energy-saving measures
With the aim to analyze the influences of external factors and measures on electricity consumption in the telecommunications industry, we propose a method to describe such scenarios by addressing two research tasks as follows: (1) Developing the electricity demand model for telecommunications industry (EDMoTI) to estimate the future electricity consumption of communication buildings; (2) Formalizing a process to describe electricity demand scenarios in the telecommunications industry using EDMoTI based on a scenario planning method [20]
Summary
The usage of information and communication technology (ICT) is widely recognized as a means of improving energy efficiency to address climate change across the world [1,2]. Smart transportation systems and smart grids are examples of ICT applications that help to improve environmental performance in society [3]. In addition to environmental benefit, ICT devices, such as personal computers and smartphones, have enhanced convenience in our everyday lives. ICT needs to be further promoted than ever to reduce CO2 emissions. Green ICT is a concept enabling the improvement of the environmental performances of ICT (i.e., direct effects of ICT) [3]
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