The Next Generation Mobile Networks Alliance (NGMN) has released pioneering guidance to help mobile network operators (MNOs) implement effective energy management strategies. This advice aims to support MNOs in reducing operational costs and carbon emissions, while also creating new business opportunities. The guidance explores how operators can deploy renewable energy sources and battery storage at their cell sites, enabling them to generate their own power and even sell surplus energy back to the grid, effectively transforming cell sites into virtual power plants.

The publication, titled ‘Energy Management and Flexibility in Mobile Networks’, details both technical and operational adjustments required as the mobile sector aligns itself with national grid energy transitions. It addresses practical challenges, such as integrating local wind and solar power, managing grid connections, navigating tariffs, and ensuring the appropriate use of batteries. The document also highlights that the maturity of a country’s renewable energy infrastructure should influence how much operators invest in their own renewables, suggesting a tailored approach to energy management for each market.

NGMN’s guidance is part of its ongoing Green Future Networks Programme, which has been providing the industry with practical tools to support sustainability since 2021. NGMN’s leadership stresses the importance of balancing environmental objectives, investment decisions, and energy cost stability. The Alliance encourages all stakeholders to adopt these recommendations where appropriate, and to collaborate further in shaping a greener, more resilient future for mobile networks.