The Sustainable Media research area at Fraunhofer FOKUS is dedicated to developing and establishing energy-efficient and sustainable technologies across the entire digital media value chain. Our mission is to combine ecological responsibility with technological excellence – from content production, smart encoding, distribution and end-user consumption to advanced media applications and green ad-tech for connected TV and mobile.
We actively engage with industry partners, associations and standardization bodies to create awareness for sustainable and energy-efficient media tech, define standards and build innovative solutions for digital media. As a member of the Task Force Sustainability within ZVEI’s Deutsche TV-Plattform, we help shape industry adoption of sustainable media and frameworks that promote transparency and comparability.
By leveraging sustainable media technologies, we support our clients to stay ahead of regulatory requirements and align their operations with global ESG standards, fostering trust through measurable sustainability. Additionally, they benefit from reduced operational energy costs, real-time insights into their streaming footprint, and optimized infrastructure that maintains high-quality delivery. These advancements enable them to future-proof their media tech stack, deliver premium experiences with lower emissions, and utilize AI for smarter, greener media and streaming solutions. Improved traceability in live streaming boosts content credibility and brand safety.
Artificial Intelligence is rapidly becoming the backbone of sustainable innovation in media technology. At Fraunhofer FOKUS, we harness AI not only to reduce energy consumption but to fundamentally rethink how media workflows are designed, operated, and optimized.
Through initiatives like “Green Streaming,” we develop precise measurement tools and analytics to assess the energy consumption of streaming workflows – from encoders and CDNs to playback devices. Our solutions, such as FAMIUM GreenView, enable dynamic, energy-efficient playback and deliver automated consumption metrics for players like HbbTV, ExoPlayer, and cTV.
We also explore predictive energy modeling for end-user devices. For example, by forecasting the energy consumption of OLED Smart TVs based on usage patterns and content types, we can inform adaptive streaming strategies that minimize power draw
Other AI-driven use cases include:
These innovations are not just theoretical. They are being tested and deployed in collaboration with streaming providers, broadcasters, platform providers, and device manufacturers across the globe to demonstrate how AI can drive measurable reductions in the carbon footprint of digital media and their consumption.
Benefits:
By integrating C2PA standards (Coalition for Content Provenance and Authenticity), we enhance the traceability and integrity of live streams. Our solutions allow real-time verification of content origin and authenticity – a crucial step toward trustworthy media offerings.
Benefits:
Our research already addresses tomorrow’s challenges:
Fraunhofer Institute for Open Communication Systems