Cambridge Study Estimates Ethereum Uses 7.87 GWh Annually, With Low Energy Intensity Among PoS Networks

A Cambridge Centre for Alternative Finance study estimates Ethereum consumes about 7.87 gigawatt-hours (GWh) of electricity annually, placing it near the lower end of energy intensity among major proof-of-stake (PoS) blockchains, even as its total electricity use remains higher than most PoS networks assessed. According to Cointelegraph, when adjusted for market value, Ethereum used roughly 33 kilowatt-hours (kWh) per $1 million, the second-lowest figure in the comparison, behind BNB Chain. The study also found Solana had the highest annual electricity consumption among the PoS networks reviewed at about 13.48 GWh, with an energy intensity of roughly 283 kWh per $1 million of market value, around 8.5 times Ethereum’s. Across the networks included in the comparison, total electricity consumption was about 38 GWh combined. Cambridge said the report offers one of the most detailed assessments yet of Ethereum’s post-Merge footprint, aiming to provide policymakers and investors with a more current basis for comparing blockchain sustainability.

Cambridge derived its estimates by measuring electricity use “at the wall” for Ethereum nodes across 20 combinations of the network’s main software clients. It reported that a typical home setup used about 18 watts, while a more powerful workstation used roughly 153 watts. Based on Ethereum’s mix of residential and professionally hosted nodes, researchers estimated an average power draw of about 105 watts per node. The study counted around 8,522 discoverable full nodes, with 64% operating in cloud or enterprise facilities and 36% on residential connections. Cambridge added that Ethereum’s remaining emissions are now driven mainly by the electricity grids supplying its nodes, estimating that about 56.4% of the network’s electricity mix came from renewable and nuclear sources, compared with 43.6% from fossil fuels. Ethereum shifted from proof-of-work mining to proof-of-stake validation through the Merge in September 2022, replacing energy-intensive mining competition with validators who secure the network by staking Ether. After the Merge, energy estimates indicated the upgrade reduced Ethereum’s electricity use by more than 99.9% by removing mining from the security process.