Wilhelm Wanecek's research study estimates Stellar network electricity consumption at 0.222 Wh per transaction, with network traffic accounting for 94% of power use. The findings demonstrate Stellar's energy efficiency compared to proof-of-work blockchains and highlight the protocol's successful decoupling of decentralization from extreme power consumption.
A comprehensive study by Wilhelm Wanecek examines the electricity consumption of the Stellar network, estimating 0.222 Wh per successful transaction and 24.6 kW total network power consumption across 132 validator nodes. The research reveals that network traffic is responsible for 94% of power usage, while CPU and RAM contribute less than 4%. The study employed software-based measurements on a dedicated server, extrapolated across the network, and included a community survey of validator hardware. Key findings show Stellar has successfully decoupled decentralization from extreme energy use, with consumption comparable to a regular web server. The author recommends future improvements including physical power meter verification, better network traffic coefficients, and expanded scope to include Horizon and full validator storage.
