German study targets emissions of streaming

BERLIN — Streaming high-definition videos and games can result in significant greenhouse gas emissions, depending on the technology used, according to a study backed by the German government that was released last week.

The report calculated the amount of carbon dioxide produced by data centers where material is stored for streaming and by the transmission technology used to get it to consumers.

It concluded that streaming video over fiber-optic cables results in the lowest amount of carbon dioxide emissions: 2 grams per hour. Using copper cables produces twice that amount, while 3G mobile technology results in a hefty 90 grams per hour. The report's authors said streaming over next-generation mobile technology, known as 5G, would result in emissions of 5 grams per hour.

Data centers, meanwhile, accounted for only a small share of the overall energy use, though the amount varied significantly depending on how efficiently servers were used and cooled, according to the report.

Christian Stoll, an energy expert who wasn't involved in the study, said the figures appeared plausible but noted that they didn't take into account the amount of electricity consumed by the devices used to watch the streamed videos.

“(This) represent a significant part of the total emissions,” said Stoll, a researcher at Technical University Munich's Center for Energy Markets and the MIT Center for Energy and Environmental Policy Research.

German Environment Minister Svenja Schulze said the study was an attempt to help provide solid data for decision-makers as digital infrastructure becomes increasingly important at the same time that countries try to reduce emissions of greenhouse gases.