O2 in €6m deal to reduce CO2 emissions


17 Apr 2007

Ireland’s second-largest mobile phone operator O2 has signed a €6m deal with wind farm player Energia in a bid to reduce CO2 emissions by over 240,000 tonnes a year, equal to removing 60,000 cars from the road.

Under the deal Energia, a subsidiary of Viridian, will supply electricity to all O2’s sites across Ireland, including retail outlets and masts.

“This year, more than ever, the world is focused on global warming and the changes in behaviour that are required to secure our planet for future generations,” said Tony Hanway, director of O2 Ireland.

“In O2, with a nationwide communications network, we are keen to ensure that the manner in which we conduct our business is environmentally sustainable. In conjunction with Energia, we have already completed the switchover to green energy.

“Other environmental initiatives we operate include a robust waste management system to reduce the amount of waste sent to landfill and increase our recycling rates year on year,” Hanway said.

Energia is currently constructing 15 new wind farms across Ireland on the back of developer contracts valued at €550m over 15 years to supply electricity to 100,000 homes annually. The 165MW produced by the wind farms will save 215,000 tonnes of CO2 and other emissions adding up to taking 50,000 cars off the road.

Viridian operates a major power station at Huntstown in North Dublin and is building a second plant at the same site. Its Energia subsidiary already has a 25pc share of the business electricity market on an all-island basis.

By John Kennedy