NBN Co recently announced its Towards-Zero Carbon Ambition and membership of the global RE100 renewable energy initiative.

The company is reducing its annual energy use by 25GWh by December 2025. To foster this initiative, the company will purchase 100 percent renewable electricity from December 2025. NBN Co plans to purchase its power from renewable energy sources via power purchase agreements and contracts for renewables. The company has already recently entered into a renewable power purchasing agreement. This agreement aims to deliver almost 20 percent renewable energy to the network by FY23. NBN Co is also set to use electric or hybrid vehicles by 2030 as long as they are suitable.

NBN Co Chief Executive Officer Stephen Rue said: “As we continue to navigate this time of great change and challenge, the critical role of broadband connectivity in supporting the nation’s social and economic needs has never been more evident.”

“We want to create a more sustainable company through our commitment to digital inclusion and capability; empowering individuals, businesses and communities to stimulate economic productivity and growth; operating a trusted secure and reliable network, reducing emissions and addressing climate risks; fostering workplace diversity and inclusion and by being transparent and accountable.”

According to RE100 Australia coordinator John Dee, “NBN Co is the first Australian telecommunication company and the first government business enterprise to join RE100.”

NBN Co joins 110 other major companies in Australia that have joined RE100. It is also one of the companies that committed to switching to 100 percent renewable electricity.

The coordinator also said that “NBN Co is taking an important step towards the goal of exclusively buying clean, green, renewable energy.”

“But it’s not just the direct impact of NBN Co’s renewable electricity commitment that’s important. It also makes a positive impact on the over 8.3 million homes and businesses that use the NBN network. For small businesses, this may be one of their first suppliers to make such a commitment. It sets a positive example that other companies can follow.”

Meanwhile, Lindsay Soutar, director of REenergise at Greenpeace Australia Pacific said: “Big telcos and internet providers use enormous amounts of electricity, and having NBN Co join frontrunners Telstra and TPG Telecom in making the shift to renewables will have a major impact on Australia’s emissions.”

“As Greenpeace’s recent report revealed, telcos and internet providers are one of the leading industries in Australia’s energy transition. Now we need Optus, which seems to be perpetually stuck on dial-up, to join the party.”