Management & facts

We had set ourselves the following goal for the end of 2021: for the Group as a whole to meet all of its electricity requirements, and more than 90 percent of its total energy requirements, with renewable energy sources. And we have achieved this goal. To underscore this commitment, we have joined the global RE100 initiative, which aims to advance the purchase of electricity from renewable sources.

In this context, we are sourcing more green electricity directly, acquiring corresponding guarantees of origin, or concluding special power purchase agreements (PPAs), as is the case in the United States. As of the end of 2022, 27.7 percent of the power used throughout the Group was obtained via PPAs. We aim to increase this figure to 50 percent by 2025 in Germany and Europe. Whenever possible and practicable, we invest in our own power plants, such as cogeneration plants or photovoltaic systems. In 2022, we further expanded our own generation and commissioned 20 photovoltaic systems, with more already in planning.

As of the end of 2022, we operated over 330 photovoltaic systems, for our own electricity requirements, with a total generating capacity of about 6 200 kilowatts peak (kWp). In 2022, we further expanded our own generation and commissioned 20 photovoltaic plants. In 2023, we plan to commission around 120 more plants.

We use the Renewable Energies ESG KPI  to measure our progress. In addition, we have also introduced parameters throughout the Group that are used to assess electricity procurement at all of our national companies in terms of sustainability.

Since 2019, we have been testing a climate-neutral power supply for cellular base stations (only available in German) in which we use fuel cells instead of diesel generators. Fuel cells are economical, silent, low-maintenance and, most importantly, thanks to the use of bio-methanol, carbon neutral.

The ESG KPI  “Renewable Energy” is calculated as renewable energy’s share in meeting the Group’s total electricity requirements. Since 2021, we have been sourcing 100 percent of the electricity we use, throughout the Group, from renewable energy sources. By reaching this milestone, we have achieved one of our climate targets.

We are working to reduce our energy consumption overall, by improving our energy efficiency and implementing energy-saving measures. In the efficiency measures, for example, we combine technology that is only partially utilized, thereby reducing the total number and thus power consumption. We are also replacing rectifiers that require significantly less energy to convert AC voltage to DC voltage. We achieve further savings with intelligent control in the access network, in which energy is adjusted precisely to demand or the power consumption of individual antennas is reduced at times of low load.

The electricity requirements that remain are met with renewable energy. Also, we are aiming to increase our own electricity generation, and to have Power Purchase Agreements (PPAs) meet larger and larger shares of our power use. As of the end of 2022, 28 percent of the power we used throughout the Group was obtained via PPAs. By 2025, this figure is expected to reach 50 percent. Although we meet our power requirements wherever possible via PPAs, our own power generation and direct purchases, capacity limitations require us to also depend on sources for which guarantees of origin (GOs) come into play. GOs are an important element in our efforts to meet 100 percent of our electricity requirements via renewable energy sources and thereby achieve our climate target in this area.

Share of renewable energy in the total electricity consumption (in percent)

Group-wide, we cover 100 percent of our electricity consumption from renewable energies. To this end, all European national companies can also purchase renewable energy certificates (guarantees of origin) if needed.

In the year under review, every one of our national companies met its energy needs entirely from renewable sources. In determining the amount, the national companies can also include certificates (guarantees of origin) and power purchase agreements (PPAs) for electricity obtained from renewable energy.

Deutsche Telekom in Germany purchases its electricity as part of a green tariff (generated under the German Renewable Energy Sources Act (EEG). 23 percent comes directly from renewable energies. The rest is covered by guarantees of origin, power purchase agreements (PPAs), and a small proportion by in-house generation.

T-Mobile US has reached our Group target primarily with wind power, but also with solar energy. To that end, the American national company has concluded long-term contracts (12-15 years) with wind and solar farm operators, which gives the power producers security of investment. We are also aiming to conclude such long-term electricity purchase agreements in other countries. As of the end of 2022, 28 percent of the power we used throughout the Group was obtained via PPAs.

We use the Renewable Energies ESG KPI  to measure our progress. It is calculated based on the share of renewable energy in total electricity consumption, and is compared here, for all national companies, to the share of renewable energy in the national energy mix (country mix)a).