<img src="http://bitcoinmagazine.com/.image/c_limit%2Ccs_srgb%2Ch_1200%2Cq_auto:good%2Cw_1200/MTg3NTczMTU2OTkzNTc0MTQz/inside-immersion-coolingthe-pros-and-cons-of-bitcoin-minings-rapidly-growing-practice.png” />
Winter is coming, and that means a shift in energy demands and a realignment of power generation capacity. During the coldest months of the year, the Northern Hemisphere receives less direct sunlight and shorter daylight hours, making winter a literally cold season for solar generation. With marked difficulties in infrastructure that is not equipped to withstand what the Iowan in me would call a “normal winter.”
This means insulating pipes to prevent freezing and ice crystal formation; You’d be surprised how much water can be found when things start to freeze. It also means the need for a lighter weight hydraulic fluid intended to withstand cold climates and maintain its viscosity for lubrication and pressure distribution functions. Or O-rings/gaskets of different density or polymer that prevent excessive shrinkage in response to cold temperatures; avoiding leaks and pressure losses. As well as taking into account which parts of the equipment are directly exposed to the elements versus insulation. This was a common problem when you were an aircraft hydraulics specialist for the Army in Iowa and then deployed to the Middle East; All inventories and operating equipment must be adapted to the environment in which it will be operated.
This may result in increased pressure on independent utility operators (ISOs) like ERCOT. But this pressure falls on ERCOT only when individual power generation and distribution operators are not adequately prepared. I don’t know how well prepared the ERCOT grid has been since Winter Storm Uri, but with continued shipping and fulfillment complications lately, I’d say it’s safest to assume that not everyone will be prepared for a potentially bitter winter ahead. . Which means ISOs like ERCOT should be preparing strategies now to have power redistribution ready where and when needed to avoid the catastrophes that follow a freak winter weather event on an unprepared grid.
“The best defense is a good offense.”
Pierre Rochard published a presentation discussing how bitcoin miners can serve ERCOT by providing auxiliary efforts, but that’s just the tip of the iceberg.
https://x.com/BitcoinPierre/status/1672304412591620096?s=20
In May 2023 I wrote a concept for bitcoin?r=lp96t”>Simply bitcoin detailing how power distribution infrastructure will benefit from the defensive auspices that bitcoin mining can generate. This approach uses an offensive strategy to expand grid reliability by increasing power demand with perpetual and flexible charging.
By using bitcoin miners, we can have peaking plants and extensive power generation facilities essentially “warmed up” and already providing a flow of electrons and molecules so that when winter weather demand hits, the only course of action is to redirect the flow. bitcoin miners are positioned to handle this burden better than any other industry today, as they can power cycles in a fraction of the time compared to other operations. Allow bitcoin miners to act as a vanguard in balancing the network rather than relying on industries like metallurgy (which affects many more downstream moving parts than a bitcoin miner’s drawdown).
Let’s not forget the additional benefits of capturing and redistributing the heat produced by ASICs. There are many rabble in the Twittersphere (I will never call the app “X”) that use capture strategies from domestic mining operations to produce heat for washing machines, water heaters, etc. It is necessary to defend expensive infrastructures, no strategy should be ruled out. Especially when it is provided for free through normal operations.
This is the network infrastructure provided by bitcoin mining. This is a matter of national defense.
This is a guest post by Mike Hobart.. The opinions expressed are entirely their own and do not necessarily reflect those of btc Inc or bitcoin Magazine.