Bitcoin Mining Reshapes the Energy Sector

Bitcoin Mining is indissolubly combining with the energy sector. This treaty has a rapid development and all show that it will bring about an explosion of innovation which will reshape the energy sector in relation to the required bitcoin energy. It will also dramatically benefit renewable energy networks. Bitcoin has the potential to achieve these goals and quite a bit more, which we will see in detail in the continuation of this article.

Bitcoin Mining is the most appropriate and beneficial for renewable energy sources.

The energy cost is the number one criticism of bitcoin. Also, lately, there has been a constant “discussion” about whether bitcoin mining could lead to a clean energy transition. The answer is yes, it is entirely feasible and the data prove it to us. We have noticed that Bitcoin miners are now buying the cheapest available energy sources, both because they are cheaper and because they are environmentally friendly (the grid needs huge amounts of energy to operate). Renewable energy sources (RES), mainly wind and solar energy, are gradually becoming cheaper.

In a recent survey of 2021, mining energy consumption is estimated to be about the same energy requirements of a small nation.

To quantify energy costs, it must be compared on a scale with existing financial systems.

There are some key developments in the Bitcoin mining industry, such as the concept of “life cycle mining”, the development of a new hybrid model for bitcoin mining based in part on the network and the slowdown in ASIC development cycles.

Lifecycle mining is a concept that the energy inputs and data center model used by the miners employed should be tailored to the age of the hardware. Therefore the type of energy used depends on how old your machines are. Newer bitcoin miners commonly go to higher-assurance data centers and get plugged into dependable energy with high productivity statements. Older unit operators search for dirt cheap power.

A new hybrid model for BTC mining makes its appearance. More specifically, miners can buy energy from energy providers during the time that the energy is abundant. This is a process where miners can earn profits from an asset from renewable energy sources that would otherwise be discarded on the ground while maintaining a high operating time. Renewable energy sources become more economical and more profitable for the miners, as they can utilize their assets even when the grid is not in demand for it.

Hydroelectric power is one of the plenty sources of supply for bitcoin miners. During the current period, miners are using energy from nuclear power plants, due to the excess power at night, the time that the grid is less demanding.

Flexible load allows grids to accommodate more renewables.

One of the most important things is that a new feature of bitcoin mining has begun to gain traction, to the benefit of power grid operators. Bitcoin miners represent “interruptible load,” which means that they can deal with power outages without suffering adverse impacts to their business. It is certain that miners prefer to have power all of the time, but nothing catastrophic happens when they lose power.

This makes them perfect for so-called “demand response” programs, which refers to formal or informal agreements to curtail their demand when the grid is overtaxed and prices are high. This means that when energy is in short supply, bitcoin miners can turn themselves off and get power to the households that need it most.

In exchange for agreeing to have their power interrupted some percentage of the time, miners get rebates, so it’s economically worthwhile to opt into these programs. Even if miners aren’t participating in an explicit rebate program, surging market prices during shortages in deregulated grids send miners the signal to turn themselves off.

Bitcoin Miners have the possibility to serve as a source of “controllable load”.

More specifically miners can increase and decrease their consumption to a level the grid operator demands — within seconds. Instead of modifying the supply side, such as activating gas turbines to compensate for a sudden interruption of wind, grid operators can instead ask mining data center operators to decrease their consumption. Having this option means that cutting-edge fossil-fuel units don’t need to be triggered as often.

The more control there is on the demand side for network operators, the fewer high-carbon units there are. Due to the growing influence of renewables on grids, more flexible load is welcome. Wind and solar energy, unlike coal, hydroelectric or nuclear power plants, don’t produce energy reliably. Their breakdown means they have to be offset by batteries (mostly uneconomical at the moment).

So far Bitcoin mining seems to be fully consistent with the goals of environmentalists (mainly in the US), as it protects networks that become unstable from new wind and solar elements, earns money from hydroelectric and nuclear power when the grid is not a buyer and can be installed to off-grid niches such as gas waste.

—

This article is based on an article by Nic Carter of CoinDesk. Find the whole article here.

GX Blocks

If you enjoyed this article make sure to follow GX BLOCKS for more educational content around blockchain technology.

Our mailing address: info@gxblocks.net
Subscribe to our Newsletter to stay updated here.
GX Blocks Energy — Official Website: www.gxblocks.com

Twitter | LinkedIn

Join Coinmonks Telegram Channel and Youtube Channel learn about crypto trading and investing

Bitcoin Mining Reshapes the Energy Sector

Also, Read

More from Coinmonks

Get the Medium app

GX BLOCKS