Marathon Digital has begun mining bitcoin (btc) using energy generated from methane gas extracted from a landfill. The 280 kW off-grid pilot project is operational in Utah.
Marathon partnered with Nodal Power on the project. Nodal Power launched in November 2022 and produces power from landfill gas in the southeastern United States and Texas. It raised $13 million in a seed round in August to operate two sites, one of which includes a data center.
Marathon saying in a statement that the project is “part of a broader initiative the Company is undertaking to validate its ability to capture methane emitted from landfills, convert it into electricity, and then use that electricity to power bitcoin miners.” . Marathon CEO Fred Thiel said:
“If the results of the pilot project meet our expectations, we hope to expand our footprint in this area and help landfill operators and others meet their environmental goals.”
bitcoin miners are actively seeking new green generation solutions. Genesis Digital Assets Limited, for example, installed an 8 MW facility in Sweden that uses hydropower in August.
Related: bitcoin miners seek alternative energy sources to reduce costs
Marathon cut the ribbon in a 200 MW immersion cooled installation at Masdar Sustainable City in Abu Dhabi at the end of October. He released A report that month found that landfill cryptocurrency mining is practical and has a number of advantages for miners and landfill owners, as well as the environment. According to the United Nations, methane is much more harmful to the environment than carbon dioxide.
bitcoin?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw”>#bitcoin is incentivized to harness this wasted renewable energy and we are honored to be part of this pilot with @MarathonDH https://t.co/BxC8O84SWh
– Nodal (@NodalPower) November 2, 2023
Marathon reported that this year’s second quarter earnings fell short of expectations, even though it mined a record 2,926 bitcoin in the quarter. Its second-quarter revenue rose 228% year-over-year to $132.8 million.
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