Energy Consumption Analysis and Carbon Footprint Modeling of Blockchain Consensus Protocols

Abstract

The rapid expansion of blockchain networks has sparked global concerns surrounding their
environmental sustainability, particularly due to the high energy consumption associated with consensus protocols
such as Proof-of-Work (PoW). As decentralized applications scale and network participation increases, quantifying
and mitigating energy overhead becomes essential for green digital transformation. This study proposes a
comprehensive energy consumption analysis framework and a carbon footprint modeling approach that integrates
network hash power, geographic distribution of participating nodes, electricity grid characteristics, and renewable
energy penetration. The model evaluates energy profiles across multiple consensus mechanisms, including PoW,
Proof-of-Stake (PoS), and Delegated Proof-of-Stake (DPoS), incorporating real-world mining data and network
telemetry. Comparative findings demonstrate that PoS and DPoS drastically reduce energy requirements by
eliminating intensive hash computations and enabling lightweight verification mechanisms. Furthermore, carbon
emissions are significantly lower when consensus nodes operate within renewable-rich regions, emphasizing the
importance of geographic optimization and green-energy-aware node placement. This research highlights the
potential for sustainable blockchain adoption by combining protocol-level innovation with environmentally
conscious engineering practices, offering a structured approach for policymakers, developers, and organizations
transitioning toward eco-efficient distributed ledger technologies.