#Huawei #Vienna #Austria #energy transformation #ICT Efficiency

Transforming from Energy Consumers to Prosumers

On October 14-15, 2026, the 10th Global ICT Efficiency Summit convened in Vienna, hosted by Huawei, showcasing a collaborative effort from telecommunications operators, tower infrastructure providers, energy service providers, aggregators, and analysts. The primary focus of the summit was the evolving role of telecommunications facilities, which need to transition from passive energy consumers to active prosumers. These entities will not only consume energy but also generate, store, manage, and trade it effectively.

The Rise of Virtual Power Plants

The concept of Virtual Power Plants (VPP) is becoming a concrete priority for the near future. As operators continue to identify the economic benefits at the individual facility level, they are realizing that integrating photovoltaic systems with energy storage can successfully lower energy costs under $0.04 per kWh. In Europe, the implementation of VPPs at facility levels is achieving an average return on investment of around three years, while generating annual revenues of approximately €800 per facility. Consequently, this integration improves power supply availability and presents a feasible opportunity to gradually reduce— and ultimately eliminate—dependence on diesel fuel. This shift is turning energy resources within telecommunications facilities from mere cost sources into strategically significant assets.

Structural Challenges in the Telecommunications Sector

Telecommunications operators face structural challenges, primarily due to increasing reliance on telecom networks while energy supply assurance diminishes. Revenue growth has failed to keep pace with rising investments and data transmission traffic. A fruitful solution lies in merging technological innovation with new business models that leverage the independent energy resources of telecom facilities. This includes aggregating distributed energy storage into common resources, employing AI to optimize charging and discharging cycles based on price signals, and providing services to the electric grid.

For aggregators, the goal remains to transform the scattered resources of individual facilities into flexible energy assets that cooperatively engage with the grid through standardized interfaces, interoperable platforms, and profitable business models. Achieving this requires consolidating multiple small energy resources into portfolios large enough to compete in electricity service markets while maintaining operators' control over facility resilience and service continuity.

Promising Outcomes and Global Initiative

Early implementations have confirmed the advantages of these solutions. For example, during a power outage in Portugal, critical services managed to stay operational for a remarkable 12 hours. In Finland, VPPs enabled telecom facilities to generate revenue from their energy assets. A pilot project in Southeast Asia’s rural regions demonstrated that 86% of facilities could function solely on solar energy without needing diesel refills for 24 months, achieving zero CO2 emissions. Such instances exemplify how telecom facilities can enhance service continuity, lessen fuel dependence, and support decarbonization across varying market and grid operation conditions.

At the summit, a global initiative named “Transitioning to Prosumers—Global Initiative for the Communications Industry” was launched. This ambitious initiative aims to urge the telecommunications sector to share the energy resources of their facilities, establish common standards, interfaces, and business models, and foster the development of an open energy ecosystem. Huawei reaffirmed its commitment to deepening the integration of digital and energy technologies and collaborating with partners worldwide to innovate and establish standards. This is pivotal for the industry's transformation towards a high-quality energy system.

Conclusion

As the telecommunications industry evolves in response to the changing energy landscape, initiatives like these are crucial. Leveraging technology to capitalize on renewable energy sources not only supports companies in reducing operational costs but also simultaneously contributes to global sustainability efforts. The successful transition of telco facilities into prosumers marks an essential step toward a robust, resilient energy future.