WuBlockchain
Ethereum consumes approximately 7.87 GWh of electricity annually following The Merge, a decline of more than 99.9% from its pre-Merge level, according to a new report from the Cambridge Centre for Alternative Finance. Annual emissions sit around 2.37 ktCO2e, down roughly 99.98%, based on an audit of approximately 8,522 nodes.
Why it matters
The energy footprint is no longer the headline. The Merge shifted the question from how much Ethereum consumes to which grids its nodes sit on. CCAF finds 56.4% of the network's electricity comes from sustainable sources, with the residual carbon exposure now a function of local grid intensity rather than proof-of-work mining economics.
Market impact
The United States, Germany, Finland, and France host about 62% of Ethereum full nodes, while Hetzner, Amazon Web Services, and OVH together host roughly 40% of all nodes. That concentration is now the next-frontier ESG question: institutional allocators evaluating ETH on sustainability grounds will read the node-hosting map as closely as the power-consumption figure.
Frequently asked questions
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How much electricity does Ethereum use after The Merge?
Approximately 7.87 GWh annually, a decline of more than 99.9% from pre-Merge levels, according to the Cambridge Centre for Alternative Finance.
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What are Ethereum's annual emissions after The Merge?
Roughly 2.37 ktCO2e, down about 99.98% from pre-Merge levels, based on an infrastructure audit of approximately 8,522 nodes.
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What share of Ethereum's electricity comes from sustainable sources?
CCAF finds 56.4% of the network's electricity is supplied by sustainable energy sources.
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Where are most Ethereum full nodes hosted?
The United States, Germany, Finland, and France host about 62% of full nodes, with Hetzner, Amazon Web Services, and OVH together hosting roughly 40% of all nodes.
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What drives Ethereum's remaining environmental footprint?
Local grid carbon intensity, not the consensus mechanism, according to CCAF. Residual emissions now track where nodes are physically located rather than how the network reaches agreement.
Benjamin Cowen
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