Environmental Impacts of 6G Networks, including their Energy Consumption and Carbon Footprint

Environmental Impacts of 6G Networks: Energy Consumption and Carbon Footprint examines a critical challenge facing the next generation of wireless communications: how to deliver the transformative capabilities of 6G while minimizing its environmental impact. As 6G promises ultra-high-speed connectivity, intelligent automation, massive machine-type communications, and immersive digital experiences, supporting technologies such as dense network infrastructures, terahertz communications, massive MIMO, edge computing, and AI-driven services may significantly increase energy consumption, carbon emissions, and resource demands. This book explores how sustainable design and technological innovation can help address these challenges. Covering energy-efficient network architectures, green radio technologies, renewable energy integration, carbon reduction, energy harvesting, wireless power transfer, and intelligent network optimization, the book presents emerging approaches to greener communications. It also examines the potential of solar, wind, hydroelectric, biomass, and geothermal energy to support more sustainable telecommunications infrastructure. The discussion extends across the technology lifecycle, addressing life cycle assessment, eco-design, green supply chains, sustainable manufacturing, environmental regulation, and policy. Particular attention is given to the role of Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning in optimizing energy consumption, managing resources, and improving network efficiency. Bringing together telecommunications engineering, environmental science, sustainability, economics, and public policy, this multidisciplinary resource provides a framework for developing 6G networks that are not only faster and more intelligent, but also more environmentally sustainable. It is intended for researchers, academics, postgraduate students, industry professionals, technology developers, and policymakers shaping the future of next-generation communications.