Nokia and Companion.energy Pioneer Cost & Carbon-Aware Networking for a Enduring Future
Network operators are facing increasing pressure to reduce costs and meet ambitious sustainability goals. A new collaboration between Nokia and Companion.energy is poised to deliver on both fronts,marking a significant step forward in energy management for telecommunications infrastructure. By integrating Companion.energy’s intelligent energy optimization platform wiht Nokia’s Altiplano Access Controller, operators can move beyond simple energy efficiency to a dynamic, cost and carbon-aware networking approach.
The Challenge: Beyond Energy Efficiency
For years, the focus in network energy management has been on reducing overall consumption. While important, this approach overlooks a critical dimension: when and how energy is consumed. Customary methods fail to leverage the growing availability of renewable energy sources, fluctuating market prices, and complex energy contracts. This results in missed opportunities for cost savings and hinders progress towards genuine carbon reduction. Operators are left grappling with “blocked versatility” – a lack of automated systems to capitalize on market fluctuations and optimize energy usage.
A New Paradigm: Intelligent energy Orchestration
Companion.energy addresses this challenge with a complex platform that connects all energy data sources – from grid pricing and renewable production to complex contract terms – into a single,unified view. Their core application, now available on the Nokia Altiplano Application Marketplace, leverages machine learning to forecast and optimize network energy consumption in real-time.
The integration with Nokia’s Altiplano Access Controller is the key. Altiplano continuously monitors and controls the fixed network,ensuring optimal performance and efficiency. Companion.energy adds a crucial “energy layer” on top, intelligently steering energy usage based on a holistic understanding of cost, carbon footprint, and available renewable resources.
How it works: From Insight to action
This isn’t just about monitoring; it’s about actionable intelligence. Here’s how the integration delivers tangible benefits:
* Automated Renewable Energy Matching: The system automatically tracks and prioritizes the use of renewable energy sources, including on-site generation (like solar) and power purchase agreements (PPAs).
* Dynamic Cost Optimization: By embedding energy cost and contract intelligence, the platform ensures operators consume energy when it’s cheapest, minimizing exposure to volatile market prices.
* Granular Carbon Intensity Insights: Operators gain clear, report-ready CO2 metrics at granular intervals, supporting Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) commitments and providing transparent reporting.
* Foundation for Future Flexibility: The integration lays the groundwork for proactive control of energy storage and renewable production assets, enabling networks to be powered by cost-competitive green energy in real-time.
Benefits for Network Operators: A triple Win
This collaboration delivers a compelling value proposition for network operators:
* Enhanced Cost Efficiency: Moves beyond simple energy reduction to translate network energy usage into real financial terms, maximizing savings based on contract conditions and market dynamics.
* Accelerated Decarbonization: Facilitates carbon-aware networking by matching consumption with available renewable sources, considerably reducing carbon footprint.
* Strengthened ESG Reporting: Provides transparent, report-ready CO2 metrics, enhancing budget predictability and supporting sustainability initiatives.
Industry momentum: The Rise of Cost & Carbon-Aware Networking
“operators have long focused on energy efficiency alone, but the real possibility today lies in cost- and carbon-aware networking,” explains Thomas Vyncke, co-founder of Companion.energy. This sentiment reflects a broader industry trend. Network operators worldwide are recognizing that sophisticated energy management is no longer a “nice-to-have” but a strategic imperative.
Geert Heyninck, Nokia’s general manager of broadband networks, reinforces this point: “Our customers are looking for ways to both reduce costs and decarbonize. By adding Companion.energy’s intelligence and optimisation layer to Altiplano’s open ecosystem marketplace, operators can gain new visibility into the cost and carbon impact of their broadband networks, making their infrastructure not only more efficient, but also more sustainable.”
looking Ahead: A Sustainable Future for networks
The integration of Companion.energy and Nokia’s Altiplano Access Controller represents a pivotal moment in the evolution of network energy management. It’s a move from simply consuming less energy to consuming smarter – a paradigm shift that balances efficiency, cost stability, and sustainability. As the demand for bandwidth continues to grow, and the pressure to reduce carbon emissions intensifies, this type of intelligent energy orchestration will be essential for building a sustainable future for telecommunications networks.
Disclaimer: This article is based on publicly available facts and press releases from Nokia and Companion.energy as of November 26, 2023.