Glow
Glow is our sustainability programme for the XRP Ledger: measuring its energy use and carbon footprint, publishing the methodology, and providing the indicators the EU's MiCA regulation asks for.
Dashboard
At XRPL Commons, we are convinced that blockchain technology holds the promise to underpin and amplify a lasting positive influence on the world. Understanding and assessing sustainability metrics is crucial for various stakeholders, including corporates, developers, and investors, for several reasons:
Differentiator
Energy efficiency is key for decision-making by corporates, developers, and investors.
Mitigation
Proper data drives climate goals achievement via energy reduction/offsetting.
Transparency
Climate disclosure informs users, regulators, and the public about XRPL's environmental impact.
Regulation
Compliance with regulations like EU MiCA mandates climate impact disclosure.
XRP Ledger metrics
The live figures — carbon footprint and electricity consumption per year, per XRP and per transaction, with their history — are computed by the Crypto Carbon Ratings Institute and shown on the interactive dashboard.
The figures below are as of 24 May 2024; the live dashboard is provided by CCRI.
Our electricity consumption and carbon emissions
Carbon footprint. Annual carbon emissions of the XRPL network equal 12 Paris–New York flights. One transaction on the XRP Ledger equals the delivery of 123 emails.
Electricity consumption. Annual electricity consumption of the XRPL network equals 20,000 average UK households.
Values as of 24 May 2024.
Learn More
Webinar 1 — Elaborating a Decarbonization Strategy for the XRPL
Webinar 2 — Update on MiCA Regulations and the XRPL Carbon Assessment
Webinar 3 — Exploring MiCA Disclosure Requirements & Ecological Regeneration
Breakout session — Making the XRP Ledger more Sustainable
Methodology
XRPL is committed to environmental stewardship and advancing blockchain technology in a way that is both sustainable and responsible. This methodology page outlines our comprehensive approach to measuring, mitigating, and transparently reporting the environmental impact of the XRP Ledger (XRPL).
Scope definition
Our sustainability assessment encompasses both core and extended aspects of XRPL's operations:
Core Scope
This involves primary network operations, including transaction validations, consensus activities, and basic network functionalities.
Extended Scope
This includes peripheral activities such as node setups, additional services, and network-associated operations.
Carbon Footprint Calculation
Our methodology calculates the carbon footprint across various operational aspects:
Direct Emissions are calculated from known energy consumption data directly linked to XRPL's primary operations.
Indirect Emissions include emissions from peripheral activities and secondary services that support the network.
Key steps
1
Hardware Selection
We begin by analyzing the network and its minimum hardware requirements to select a representative hardware sample.
2
Hardware Measurement
Full nodes are run on all selected hardware devices, and their electricity consumption is measured.
3
Electricity Consumption
We estimate the total network electricity consumption by scaling measurement results with the total node count.
4
Performance Metrics
Examination of the number of transactions helps derive marginal electricity consumption per transaction.
5
Carbon Footprint
Data on node locations are gathered to calculate the network's carbon footprint via emission factors.
Results of XRPL Core & Extended Footprint Assessment
Transparency & Reporting
Dashboard
Our sustainability dashboard provides real-time insights into the network's energy consumption and carbon emissions, which are accessible publicly to ensure transparency.
Updates
We periodically publish detailed reports and updates on our sustainability practices and outcomes.
Stakeholder engagement
Community Involvement
We actively involve our community in sustainability discussions and decision-making through forums and consultations.
Partner Collaboration
We collaborate with environmental experts and other blockchain networks to collectively share best practices and improve our sustainability measures.
Get involved!
Making the XRPL protocol more sustainable is a community project.
Are you a community member ?
Get in touch to join our regular discussions to identify & implement decarbonisation levers, share best practices and empower virtuous business models.
Are you a validator?
Please fill in our Validator Data Request. This will help us better understand the energy consumption of the XRPL network. Your input is indispensable to us!
MiCA indicators
MiCA (Markets in Crypto-Assets) Regulation defines roles and responsibilities for entities within the crypto ecosystem. Among other requirements, CASPs (Crypto-Asset Service Providers) and Crypto-Asset Issuers must disclose the sustainability metrics of their currencies.
Field
MiCA Crypto Alliance
CCRI
Notes
Desc.
Mandatory key indicator on energy consumption
kWh per calendar year
Energy consumption
189,603
479,169
Supplementary key indicators on energy and GHG emissions
Percentage {DECIMAL-11/10}
Renewable energy consumption
0.32
Energy intensity
0.0002
Scope 1 - Controlled
0
Scope 2 - Purchased
62.3
GHG intensity
6.0 x 10^-5
1.0 x 10^-5
Optional indicators
Percentage {DECIMAL-11/10}
Energy mix
Energy mix
Percentage
Bioenergy
0.0372431098
Coal
0.1569796391
Gas
0.3311563509
Hydro
0.0760776434
Nuclear
0.1472707261
Other Fossil
0.0409210754
Other Renewables
0.0038909997
Solar
0.0404240033
Wind
0.1660364523
n/a
kg CO2eq per kWh
Bioenergy
3.7%
n/a
kg CO2eq per kWh
Coal
15.7%
n/a
kg CO2eq per kWh
Gas
33.1%
n/a
kg CO2eq per kWh
Hydro
7.6%
n/a
kg CO2eq per kWh
Nuclear
14.7%
n/a
kg CO2eq per kWh
Other fossil
4.1%
n/a
kg CO2eq per kWh
Other renewables
0.4%
n/a
kg CO2eq per kWh
Solar
4%
n/a
kg CO2eq per kWh
Wind
16.6%
n/a
kg CO2eq per kWh
Carbon intensity
0.3
Generation of waste electrical and electronic equipment (WEEE)
0.8
4.1
Percentage {DECIMAL-11/10}
Non-recycled WEEE ratio
0.6
Generation of hazardous waste
4.2 x 10^-4
21.2 x 10^-4
t per calendar year
Generation of waste (all types)
0.8
4.1
Percentage {DECIMAL-11/10}
Non-recycled waste ratio (all types)
0.6
Waste intensity (all types)
0.00089
n/a
n/a
Impact of the use of equipment on natural resources
Land use: 497,279
n/a
㎥ per calendar year
Water use
870.9
2,768.7
Percentage {DECIMAL-11/10}
Non-recycled water ratio
0.8
n/a
Sources and methodology
Sources and methodologies
Data provided by
Field
MiCA Crypto Alliance
CCRI
Notes
Desc.
Mandatory key indicator on energy consumption
Energy consumption
Total amount of energy used, expressed in kilowatt-hours (kWh) per calendar year, for the validation of transactions and the maintenance of the integrity of the XRP ledger.
Supplementary key indicators on energy and GHG emissions
Renewable energy consumption
Share of energy used generated from renewable sources, expressed as a percentage of the total amount of energy used per calendar year on the XRP ledger.
Energy intensity
Average amount of energy used, in kWh, per validated transaction.Total amount of energy used, expressed in kilowatt-hours (kWh) per calendar year, for the validation of transactions and the maintenance of the integrity of the XRP ledger.
Scope 1 - Controlled
Scope 1 GHG emissions, expressed in tonnes (t) carbon dioxide equivalent (CO₂e) per calendar yearfor the validation of transactions and the maintenance of the integrity of the XRP ledger.
Scope 2 - Purchased
Scope 2 GHG emissions, expressed in tCO₂e per calendar year for the validation of transactions and the maintenance of the integrity of the XRP ledger.
GHG intensity
Average GHG emissions (scope 1 and scope 2) per validated transaction, expressed in kilogram (kg) CO₂e per transaction (Tx).
Optional indicators
Carbon intensity
Share of the total amount of WEEE generated for the validation of transactions and the maintenance of the integrity of the XRP ledger, not recycled per calendar year, expressed as a percentage.
Generation of waste electrical and electronic equipment (WEEE)
Generation of waste electrical and electronic equipment (WEEE)
Generation of hazardous waste
Share of the total amount of WEEE generated for the validation of transactions and the maintenance of the integrity of the XRP ledger, not recycled per calendar year, expressed as a percentage.
Generation of waste (all types)
Share of the total amount of WEEE generated for the validation of transactions and the maintenance of the integrity of the XRP ledger, not recycled per calendar year, expressed as a percentage.
Non-recycled waste ratio (all types)
Share of the total amount of WEEE generated for the validation of transactions and the maintenance of the integrity of the XRP ledger, not recycled per calendar year, expressed as a percentage.
Waste intensity (all types)
Share of the total amount of WEEE generated for the validation of transactions and the maintenance of the integrity of the XRP ledger, not recycled per calendar year, expressed as a percentage.
Impact of the use of equipment on natural resources
Share of the total amount of WEEE generated for the validation of transactions and the maintenance of the integrity of the XRP ledger, not recycled per calendar year, expressed as a percentage.
Water use
Share of the total amount of WEEE generated for the validation of transactions and the maintenance of the integrity of the XRP ledger, not recycled per calendar year, expressed as a percentage.
Water use
Total amount of hazardous waste generated for the validation of transactions and the maintenance of the integrity of the XRP ledger, expressed in tonnes per calendar year.
Non-recycled water ratio
Total amount of hazardous waste generated for the validation of transactions and the maintenance of the integrity of the XRP ledger, expressed in tonnes per calendar year.
Sources and methodology
Sources and methodologies
MiCA Crypto Alliance
XRPL Commons
Total amount of hazardous waste generated for the validation of transactions and the maintenance of the integrity of the XRP ledger, expressed in tonnes per calendar year.
Data provided by