An Irish dairy farmer has found an unusual way to use the excess energy produced on his farm by mining Bitcoin (BTC). Tom Campbell, who runs a farm in County Armagh, Northern Ireland, produces renewable energy using a method called anaerobic digestion. This involves breaking down biodegradable material to the point where it creates methane gas, which can be used to produce electricity.
Campbell primarily uses electricity to power his farm, but when there is excess power that cannot be exported to the grid, he uses it to mine Bitcoin. Mining involves the use of specialized computers to solve complex mathematical equations, and successful miners are rewarded with BTC. Bitcoin mining requires a lot of energy, and Campbell’s farm produces up to 700 kilowatts of electrical output, the equivalent of powering nearly 12,000 homes.
The Irish government has set a goal of reducing greenhouse gas emissions by 25% by 2030. However, Ireland’s agricultural sector is responsible for more than 35% of these emissions, with cows being the main source. With 7.3 million cows in the country, managing their waste in an ecological way is crucial. Anaerobic digestion is a promising solution, potentially generating enough electricity for every household in Ireland if 41% of farms adopted the technology. This could make a significant contribution to achieving the country’s greenhouse gas emission targets.
Campbell’s decision to mine Bitcoin may seem unusual, but it makes sense from an economic perspective. When grid demand is low, miners can use excess clean power. By doing this, Campbell is able to sell excess electricity back to the grid as green, renewable electricity while profiting from Bitcoin mining.
While some farmers have raised concerns that meeting greenhouse gas emission targets could bankrupt them, Campbell’s approach shows that it is possible to find innovative solutions that benefit both the environment and the farmer’s bottom line. . With renewable energy sources like anaerobic digestion becoming more popular, more farmers could turn to Bitcoin mining in the future to make use of their excess energy.
Click below for Campbell’s exclusive interview with Cointelegraph to learn how he’s turning cow dung into digital gold.
(embed)https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xkVOJAWP688(/embed)
