The upcoming sixth generation (6G) of wireless communication networks aims to meet challenging requirements such as ultra-reliable low-latency services, massive connectivity for billions of smart devices, and intelligent automation across highly diverse environments. Along with these goals, the issues of energy efficiency and environmental sustainability are becoming equally important, as the rising number of users and traffic volumes will directly increase power demand and carbon emissions. To lower total energy consumption without sacrificing network performance, future wireless networks must implement energy-aware communication structures, sophisticated resource management techniques, and clever power optimization methodologies. In order to accomplish these goals, emerging technologies like integrated sensing and communication (ISAC), terahertz (THz) communication, reconfigurable intelligent surfaces (RIS), machine learning (ML), and artificial intelligence (AI) might be crucial. Additionally, energy harvesting, adaptive sleep modes, dynamic spectrum management, and base stations supplied by renewable energy can all help lessen the environmental effect of 6G infrastructure. With emphasis on network design, resource allocation, power management, and intelligent optimization techniques, this paper explores current advancements in sustainable and energy-efficient 6G communication technology. Important issues with computing complexity, infrastructure deployment, interoperability, and the incorporation of renewable energy sources are also covered in the research. Lastly, prospective research avenues that will help create 6G networks that are more durable, energy-efficient, and environmentally friendly are emphasized. These networks will be able to satisfy the quickly changing needs of next-generation wireless communication.

Keywords - 6G, Deep Learning, Resource Allocation, Sustainability, Energy Efficiency, Federated Learning, RIS, Digital Twin

🔒 This is a subscription article

Full text is available to subscribers and institutional members. Please choose an option below to access it.

1. Karam GM, Gruber M, Adam I, Boutigny F, Miche Y, Mukherjee S. The evolution of networks and management in a 6G world: An inventor’s view. IEEE Transactions on Network and Service Management. 2022 Jul 4;19(4):5395-407.
2. Rodriguez E, Masip-Bruin X, Martrat J, Diaz R, Jukan A, Granelli F, Trakadas P, Xilouris G. A security services management architecture toward resilient 6G wireless and computing ecosystems. IEEE access. 2024 Jul 15;12:98046-58.
3. Rasti M, Shahraki NG, Kharbouch A, Taskooh SK, Aghaei J, Nardelli PH, Ivatloo BM. Sustainable 6G-enabled digital transformation of energy sector: KPIs, challenges, and possible solutions.
4. Alghamdi R, Alhadrami R, Alhothali D, Almorad H, Faisal A, Helal S, Shalabi R, Asfour R, Hammad N, Shams A, Saeed N. Intelligent surfaces for 6G wireless networks: A survey of optimization and performance analysis techniques. IEEE access. 2020 Oct 19;8:202795-818.
5. Habibi MA, Han B, Fellan A, Jiang W, Sánchez AG, Pavón IL, Boubendir A, Schotten HD. Toward an open, intelligent, and end-to-end architectural framework for network slicing in 6G communication systems. IEEE Open Journal of the Communications Society. 2023 Jul 11;4:1615- 58.
6. Wu Q, Zhang R. Towards smart and reconfigurable environment: Intelligent reflecting surface aided wireless network. IEEE communications magazine. 2019 Nov 22;58(1):106-12.
7. Zhang S, Kong S, Chi K, Huang L. Energy management for secure transmission in wireless powered communication networks. IEEE Internet of Things Journal. 2021 May 12;9(2):1171-81.
8. Letaief KB, Shi Y, Lu J, Lu J. Edge artificial intelligence for 6G: Vision, enabling technologies, and applications. IEEE journal on selected areas in communications. 2021 Nov 8;40(1):5-36.
9. Khalid W, Rehman MA, Van Chien T, Kaleem Z, Lee H, Yu H. Reconfigurable intelligent surface for physical layer security in 6G-IoT: Designs, issues, and advances. IEEE Internet of Things Journal. 2023 Jul 20;11(2):3599-613.
10. Kamran R, Bhat MG, Jha P, Moothedath S, Hanawal M, Chaporkar P. Energy-aware 6G network design: A survey. arXiv preprint arXiv:2509.11289. 2025 Sep 14.
11. Shahraki A, Abbasi M, Piran MJ, Taherkordi A. A comprehensive survey on 6G networks: Applications, core services, enabling technologies, and future challenges. arXiv preprint arXiv:2101.12475. 2021 Jan 29.
12. Sun R, Cheng N, Li C, Quan W, Zhou H, Wang Y, Zhang W, Shen X. A comprehensive survey of knowledge-driven deep learning for intelligent wireless network optimization in 6G. IEEE Communications Surveys & Tutorials. 2025 May 29;28:1099-135.
13. She C, Dong R, Gu Z, Hou Z, Li Y, Hardjawana W, Yang C, Song L, Vucetic B. Deep learning for ultra-reliable and low-latency communications in 6G networks. IEEE network. 2020 Jul 8;34(5):219-25.
14. Alsabah M, Naser MA, Mahmmod BM, Abdulhussain SH, Eissa MR, Al-Baidhani A, Noordin NK, Sait SM, Al-Utaibi KA, Hashim F. 6G wireless communications networks: A comprehensive survey. Ieee Access. 2021 Nov 2;9:148191-243.
15. Chatzimisios P, Soldani D, Jamalipour A, Manzalini A, Das SK. Special issue on 6G wireless systems. Journal of Communications and Networks. 2020 Dec;22(6):440-3.
16. Munir MS, Proddatoori S, Muralidhara M, Dena TM, Saad W, Han Z, Shetty S. A Trust-By- Learning Framework for Secure 6G Wireless Networks Under Native Generative AI Attacks. IEEE Open Journal of the Communications Society. 2025 Jul 22;6:6045-65.
17. Jiang W, Zhou Q, He J, Habibi MA, Melnyk S, El-Absi M, Han B, Di Renzo M, Schotten HD, Luo FL, El-Bawab TS. Terahertz communications and sensing for 6G and beyond: A comprehensive review. IEEE Communications Surveys & Tutorials. 2024 Apr 8;26(4):2326-81.
18. Li Z, Wang Q, Wang Y, Chen T. The architecture of ai and communication integration towards 6g: An o-ran evolution. InProceedings of the 30th Annual International Conference on Mobile Computing and Networking 2024 Dec 4 (pp. 2329-2334).
19. Li L. Research on digital twin technology for future 6G. Intelligent and Converged Networks. 2025 Mar;6(1):20-40.
20. Nawaz SJ, Sharma SK, Mansoor B, Patwary MN, Khan NM. Non-coherent and backscatter communications: Enabling ultra-massive connectivity in 6G wireless networks. IEEe Access. 2021 Feb 23;9:38144-86.

The upcoming sixth generation (6G) of wireless communication networks aims to meet challenging requirements such as ultra-reliable low-latency services, massive connectivity for billions of smart devices, and intelligent automation across highly diverse environments. Along with these goals, the issues of energy efficiency and environmental sustainability are becoming equally important, as the rising number of users and traffic volumes will directly increase power demand and carbon emissions. To lower total energy consumption without sacrificing network performance, future wireless networks must implement energy-aware communication structures, sophisticated resource management techniques, and clever power optimization methodologies. In order to accomplish these goals, emerging technologies like integrated sensing and communication (ISAC), terahertz (THz) communication, reconfigurable intelligent surfaces (RIS), machine learning (ML), and artificial intelligence (AI) might be crucial. Additionally, energy harvesting, adaptive sleep modes, dynamic spectrum management, and base stations supplied by renewable energy can all help lessen the environmental effect of 6G infrastructure. With emphasis on network design, resource allocation, power management, and intelligent optimization techniques, this paper explores current advancements in sustainable and energy-efficient 6G communication technology. Important issues with computing complexity, infrastructure deployment, interoperability, and the incorporation of renewable energy sources are also covered in the research. Lastly, prospective research avenues that will help create 6G networks that are more durable, energy-efficient, and environmentally friendly are emphasized. These networks will be able to satisfy the quickly changing needs of next-generation wireless communication.

Keywords - 6G, Deep Learning, Resource Allocation, Sustainability, Energy Efficiency, Federated Learning, RIS, Digital Twin

🔒 This is a subscription article

Full text is available to subscribers and institutional members. Please choose an option below to access it.

1. Karam GM, Gruber M, Adam I, Boutigny F, Miche Y, Mukherjee S. The evolution of networks and management in a 6G world: An inventor’s view. IEEE Transactions on Network and Service Management. 2022 Jul 4;19(4):5395-407.
2. Rodriguez E, Masip-Bruin X, Martrat J, Diaz R, Jukan A, Granelli F, Trakadas P, Xilouris G. A security services management architecture toward resilient 6G wireless and computing ecosystems. IEEE access. 2024 Jul 15;12:98046-58.
3. Rasti M, Shahraki NG, Kharbouch A, Taskooh SK, Aghaei J, Nardelli PH, Ivatloo BM. Sustainable 6G-enabled digital transformation of energy sector: KPIs, challenges, and possible solutions.
4. Alghamdi R, Alhadrami R, Alhothali D, Almorad H, Faisal A, Helal S, Shalabi R, Asfour R, Hammad N, Shams A, Saeed N. Intelligent surfaces for 6G wireless networks: A survey of optimization and performance analysis techniques. IEEE access. 2020 Oct 19;8:202795-818.
5. Habibi MA, Han B, Fellan A, Jiang W, Sánchez AG, Pavón IL, Boubendir A, Schotten HD. Toward an open, intelligent, and end-to-end architectural framework for network slicing in 6G communication systems. IEEE Open Journal of the Communications Society. 2023 Jul 11;4:1615- 58.
6. Wu Q, Zhang R. Towards smart and reconfigurable environment: Intelligent reflecting surface aided wireless network. IEEE communications magazine. 2019 Nov 22;58(1):106-12.
7. Zhang S, Kong S, Chi K, Huang L. Energy management for secure transmission in wireless powered communication networks. IEEE Internet of Things Journal. 2021 May 12;9(2):1171-81.
8. Letaief KB, Shi Y, Lu J, Lu J. Edge artificial intelligence for 6G: Vision, enabling technologies, and applications. IEEE journal on selected areas in communications. 2021 Nov 8;40(1):5-36.
9. Khalid W, Rehman MA, Van Chien T, Kaleem Z, Lee H, Yu H. Reconfigurable intelligent surface for physical layer security in 6G-IoT: Designs, issues, and advances. IEEE Internet of Things Journal. 2023 Jul 20;11(2):3599-613.
10. Kamran R, Bhat MG, Jha P, Moothedath S, Hanawal M, Chaporkar P. Energy-aware 6G network design: A survey. arXiv preprint arXiv:2509.11289. 2025 Sep 14.
11. Shahraki A, Abbasi M, Piran MJ, Taherkordi A. A comprehensive survey on 6G networks: Applications, core services, enabling technologies, and future challenges. arXiv preprint arXiv:2101.12475. 2021 Jan 29.
12. Sun R, Cheng N, Li C, Quan W, Zhou H, Wang Y, Zhang W, Shen X. A comprehensive survey of knowledge-driven deep learning for intelligent wireless network optimization in 6G. IEEE Communications Surveys & Tutorials. 2025 May 29;28:1099-135.
13. She C, Dong R, Gu Z, Hou Z, Li Y, Hardjawana W, Yang C, Song L, Vucetic B. Deep learning for ultra-reliable and low-latency communications in 6G networks. IEEE network. 2020 Jul 8;34(5):219-25.
14. Alsabah M, Naser MA, Mahmmod BM, Abdulhussain SH, Eissa MR, Al-Baidhani A, Noordin NK, Sait SM, Al-Utaibi KA, Hashim F. 6G wireless communications networks: A comprehensive survey. Ieee Access. 2021 Nov 2;9:148191-243.
15. Chatzimisios P, Soldani D, Jamalipour A, Manzalini A, Das SK. Special issue on 6G wireless systems. Journal of Communications and Networks. 2020 Dec;22(6):440-3.
16. Munir MS, Proddatoori S, Muralidhara M, Dena TM, Saad W, Han Z, Shetty S. A Trust-By- Learning Framework for Secure 6G Wireless Networks Under Native Generative AI Attacks. IEEE Open Journal of the Communications Society. 2025 Jul 22;6:6045-65.
17. Jiang W, Zhou Q, He J, Habibi MA, Melnyk S, El-Absi M, Han B, Di Renzo M, Schotten HD, Luo FL, El-Bawab TS. Terahertz communications and sensing for 6G and beyond: A comprehensive review. IEEE Communications Surveys & Tutorials. 2024 Apr 8;26(4):2326-81.
18. Li Z, Wang Q, Wang Y, Chen T. The architecture of ai and communication integration towards 6g: An o-ran evolution. InProceedings of the 30th Annual International Conference on Mobile Computing and Networking 2024 Dec 4 (pp. 2329-2334).
19. Li L. Research on digital twin technology for future 6G. Intelligent and Converged Networks. 2025 Mar;6(1):20-40.
20. Nawaz SJ, Sharma SK, Mansoor B, Patwary MN, Khan NM. Non-coherent and backscatter communications: Enabling ultra-massive connectivity in 6G wireless networks. IEEe Access. 2021 Feb 23;9:38144-86.