What Methodologies Are Used to Estimate the Total Energy Consumption of the Global Banking System?

Estimating the total energy consumption of the global banking system is challenging due to its opacity. Methodologies typically involve a bottom-up approach, aggregating data from various sources.

This includes analyzing the direct energy usage of bank data centers, corporate offices, and thousands of physical branch locations. It also requires estimating the indirect energy consumption associated with employee travel, ATM manufacturing and operation, and the printing and transportation of physical currency.

These estimates often rely on public disclosures from major banks, industry reports, and academic studies, but a precise, universally agreed-upon figure remains elusive.