Mobile charging to consume 14,000 GWh of dirty of dirty energy by 2019, report

Mobile devices charging is likely to generate more than 13 megatons of CO2 equivalent (CO2e) of greenhouse gases per annum against an anticipated 6.4 megatons this year globally, says a new report from Juniper Research.

The research estimates that mobile charging will consume around 14,000 GWh of dirty energy by 2019.

Nearly 50 percent of these 2019 emissions –equivalent to annual emissions from 1.1 million cars – will come from coal-fired Asian electricity grids powering growing smartphone use, the report said.

The report, “Green Mobile: The Complete Guide to Vendor Strategies & Future Prospects 2014-2019,” says there is low consumer awareness of renewable energy and sustainable habits in these markets.

 

However, the report notes that where ICT companies have insisted on renewable energy from their grids, energy companies have offered to expand renewable supply to other consumers. A widespread adoption of this approach could help lower supplier emissions within the mobile arena.

Companies can have a more direct impact on user emissions by making energy efficient components and apps standard for their devices. This will also have the beneficial effect of prolonging battery life, which has long been a consumer pain point in device use, the report stated.

Additionally, the report argues that with eco-ratings playing a larger part in product evaluations, the business imperatives for sustainability are impossible to ignore.

Supply chain emissions still remain a huge problem for the industry. If suppliers can be incentivised to change now, the industry could save a potential 57.8 megatonnes in GHG emissions by 2019.

If suppliers can be incentivized to change now, the industry could save a potential 57.8 megatonnes in GHG emissions by 2019, the report said.

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