Bitcoin (BTC) mining would be one of the emerging technologies for waste recovery. More precisely, mining would make it possible to drastically reduce the amount of fugitive methane produced by the fermentation of organic materials and the petroleum industries. Knowing that it is a powerful greenhouse gas, this option is a game changer and will promote crypto mining to the rank of ecological activities.
Understanding the harms of methane on the environment
Methane (CH4) is one of the greenhouse gases, and not just any one. This one is at least 25 times more powerful than carbon dioxide (CO2) to retain heat in the atmosphere. Methane emissions can come from fossil gases. This happens throughout the supply chain (pre-production, extraction, collection, processing, storage, distribution…). CH4 also comes from the fermentation of organic materials. Methane released into the air is responsible for global warming. To combat this major environmental problem, it would be necessary to capture the emitted gas and recover it.
This biogas resulting from the degradation of organic materials mainly comes from waste landfills. In these landfills, organic materials can produce methane over twenty years. Agriculture and animal husbandry are also among the main sources of CH4 emissions. The energy sector accounts for nearly 40% of methane emissions from human activity. Reducing the amount of methane implies a limitation of these vital productions (energy, livestock, agriculture). Which seems complicated (see unimaginable). We have to find another alternative. This is where Bitcoin mining comes in.
Waste recovery and Bitcoin mining
Bitcoin has always been singled out for its particularly high carbon footprint. But suppose there is a way to balance the consumption and production of electricity while preserving the environment. In which case, the use of energy should not be a problem. The figures indicate an annual increase in the atmospheric concentration of methane. These are all sources of potential energy. There are already many processes to reduce the level of methane in the atmosphere, such as the flaring (or burning). Nevertheless, this technique generates another problem: the emission of CO2. It is also impossible to use it in sites close to agglomerations.
The idea is to find an innovative approach to generate electricity with waste methane. The use of biogas-powered reciprocating engines or turbines makes it possible to capture methane locally to produce electricity. Bitcoin miners think they are exploiting these technologies. They want to use waste gases to create electricity using small-scale generators. This process makes it possible to reduce methane emissions productively. And since Bitcoin mining is relatively energy-intensive, the reduction of methane in the atmosphere will be accordingly.
More and more companies are now embarking on the recovery of methane for the bitcoin mining. Vespene Energy, for example, has just recently raised $4.3 million to develop its carbon-negative Bitcoin mining technology. Giga Energy, for its part, collaborates with the oil industries to capture residual methane for mining purposes. In short, mining farms can absorb excess methane and convert it into hash power. That is, turning harmful waste into monetary value. As a bonus, Bitcoin turns green!
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