Bitcoin mining firm Marathon Digital Holdings, is taking a strategic step towards sustainable energy practices. The firm has started a new pilot project in Utah that relies on green, off-grid energy sourced from landfill waste gas. This move underscores their commitment to environmental responsibility in the world of Bitcoin.
Marathon has released an official announcement about this. It states that the new Bitcoin mining project uses methane gas produced by landfill waste. They will use the gas to generate electricity for their mining operations.
The company has entered into an agreement with Nodal Power to initiate a 280-kilowatt (kW) test project. Nodal Power is a company specializing in the development and operation of renewable energy assets.
About Bitcoin Mining
Bitcoin mining is a process where individuals and organizations use high-powered computers, specifically designed application-specific integrated circuits (ASICs), to solve complex mathematical puzzles.
This requires immense computing power and results in the creation of new bitcoin as a reward. However, it’s essential to note that Bitcoin mining is energy-intensive, demanding substantial electrical energy for the mining hardware to operate efficiently.
This energy intensive nature is vital to Bitcoin’s operation. It ensures that Bitcoin’s distributed ledger remains unaltered, and that no single entity can overpower the network and corrupt the its decentralized database.
Marathon’s Use of Waste Gas
According to a company statement, their success could lead to the expansion of further methane-based energy operations. According to their announcement, they are testing a project to see if they can use gas from landfills to make electricity for their Bitcoin mining machines.
The announcement reads:
“Marathon’s pilot project is part of a broader initiative being conducted by the company to validate its ability to capture methane emitted from landfills, convert it into electricity, and then use that electricity to power Bitcoin miners.”
Marathon’s new project fits with the Bitcoin mining industry’s growing interest in using cleaner energy sources to be more eco-friendly and save money.
Notably, the energy operating company XCL Resources recently employed digital flare mitigation (DFM) technology to power Bitcoin mining. They plan to use wasted natural gas in areas with limited takeaway capacity.
Similarly, several companies have established remote facilities that harness otherwise wasted natural gas for mining purposes. This will effectively reduce methane emissions and contributing to more environmentally friendly mining practices.
Bitcoin Miners Can Repurpose Methane Emissions: Fred Thiel
In 2021, the EPA found that 14.3% of methane emissions in the US came from municipal solid waste. This underscores the urgency of addressing the impact. This underscores the urgency of addressing the impact.
Marathon’s Chairman and CEO, Fred Thiel, emphasized the critical role Bitcoin miners can play in repurposing methane gas. He stated:
“The methane naturally produced from landfills, biowaste, and elsewhere is often stranded, and Bitcoin miners like Marathon are uniquely positioned to help convert this harmful gas into a productive source of clean, renewable energy.”
Thiel further stated that Marathon is committed to innovation, sustainability, and cost reduction in their operations. According to him, the company aims to “leverage the unique aspects of Bitcoin mining to better the environment.”
