ENvironmentally SUstainable digital services and practices for REsearch infrastructures

The digital transformation of science depends on large-scale Research Infrastructures (RIs) that generate, process, and store unprecedented volumes of data. However, their environmental footprint is rapidly increasing, raising concerns about energy and water use, carbon emissions, and sustainability. ENSURE addresses this challenge by operationalising the 4M cycle (Measure, Model, Monitor, Moderate) to reduce the environmental footprint of digital RIs while safeguarding scientific excellence. ENSURE will develop new technologies that combine environmental metrics, reference datasets, benchmarks, and advanced monitoring tools into a coherent framework. Harmonised indicators, aligned with international standards and EU legislation, will provide a trusted basis for impact assessment and reporting. Digital twins of data centres and GenAI methods will enable predictive modelling and the filling of data gaps related to digital infrastructure operations. Workload managers will integrate sustainability into scheduling and resource allocation, while certification and reporting frameworks will ensure transparency, comparability, and accountability across RIs. The consortium unites major ESFRI Landmarks (HL-LHC, SKA, European XFEL), pan-European digital infrastructure providers (EGI), life science domain communities (WeNMR, VIP), leading research universities, and sustainability experts. This unique composition ensures scientific relevance, technical excellence, and broad uptake across disciplines from physics, astronomy, life sciences, and medical imaging to the whole RI landscape. By embedding environmental sustainability into the daily operation of digital RIs, ENSURE will contribute directly to the European Green Deal and climate neutrality objectives. The project’s outcomes will not only lower the environmental footprint of research infrastructures but also position Europe as a global leader in sustainable digital science.