- Before the “merger,” the figure was only twice as high
- CCFA analysts
Based on Cambridge University Research Center data, Ethereum’s total energy consumption from 2015 to 2022 was 58.26 TWh..
After switching to the PoS consensus mechanism, the annual equivalent figure is down 99%.
But the “pre-Merge” value is really unpleasantly surprising.. By comparison, the average annual energy consumption of all of Switzerland is 54.88 TWh.
The U.S. has 3,989.5 TWh.. Canada has 549.2 TWh, Ukraine has 128.8 TWh, and Kazakhstan has 91.6 TWh..
The difference in performance between bitcoin, Ethereum 1.0 and Ethereum post-Merge is clearly seen in this graph:
The Center for Alternative Finance Research at Cambridge University (CCAF) explained the choice of such visual objects as follows:
“If I go out now and ask in the street, what is 100 TWh or 6 GWh?”, I will not get an answer.
People don’t understand what’s behind these terms. We try to conceptualize this information with visual objects, like a high-rise building or a raspberry.”
The CCFA stressed that PoS is not a perfect substitute for PoW, because other factors must be considered.
Also, the organization tries not to evaluate blockchains, although the difference in energy consumption is significant.
We reported earlier that the cryptocommunity refuted the conclusions of U.S. politicians about the harm of PoS blockchains to the environment. The findings of the CCAF only confirm this.