Bitcoin Mining has a superpower
The meteoric rise of cryptocurrencies, especially bitcoin, has sparked widespread debate about their impact on the environment. Bitcoin mining in particular often gets a lot of attention, with critics claiming that the energy-intensive process of mining puts strain on power grids and wastes energy.
This couldn’t be further from the truth. Bitcoin miners are increasing the resilience of energy networks, driving renewable energy development and creating jobs in rural regions. Bitcoin miners are flexible, location-agnostic loads that can respond to grid frequency events with unparalleled granularity.
This story is part of CoinDesk’s 2023 Mining Week, sponsored by Gieterij. Lee Bratcher is president and founder of the Texas Blockchain Council.
Mining energy consumption leads to the most entrenched criticisms, but it is this aspect of mining that will have the more significant transformational effects. We must embrace the nuance of this concept in our conversations with the media, policymakers, elected officials and the public at large.
One of the main advantages of bitcoin mining lies in its potential to provide a demand response mechanism for power grids. Demand response, also called “ancillary services” on the Electric Reliability Council of Texas (ERCOT) marketplace in my home state of Texas, allows the grid operator to adjust electricity usage during peak hours, preventing grid instability.
In December 2022, ERCOT reported that 96% of all major flexible loads (i.e., bitcoin miners) capped their energy use during a winter weather event that generated significant demand for electricity to heat homes. Nearly 2,000 megawatts of bitcoin mining came from the grid, shaving off peak demand by that amount.
Further, by using energy at times of the day and at locations with stranded energy, miners can significantly improve the economics of generators such as wind, solar and natural gas plants. This economic improvement for those generators helps ensure generating resources (power plants, wind and solar farms) can expand their capacity.
This process shaves off the peaks of energy consumption and lifts the troughs during times when energy demand is negligible (think overnight).
Brad Jones, the former CEO of ERCOT Interim, said it best when he stated at the 2022 Texas Blockchain Summit that “bitcoin mining is great for helping us balance the network. The bitcoin miners lower their consumption when prices rise so that we can give that power back to other consumers.
The nature of bitcoin mining operations requires miners to be near cheap energy sources. In many cases, these sources are renewable energy installations such as wind farms, hydroelectric power plants and solar panels. By locating near these renewables, miners help stabilize the power grid by capturing excess electricity production that would otherwise go to waste.
This reduces the need for grid operators to build up or down conventional power plants, minimizing inefficiencies and promoting a greener energy mix.
Bitcoin mining also drives significant investment in renewable energy infrastructure. To stay competitive, miners are constantly looking for cheaper electricity rates, which often leads them to regions rich in renewable energy resources. By establishing mining operations in these areas, miners provide revenue streams that encourage further investment in renewable energy projects.
This phenomenon has been observed in several regions where the presence of mining activities has contributed to the start-up of renewable energy projects that otherwise would not have been financially viable. Capital inflows from miners help expand the capacity of renewable energy plants, ultimately contributing to a cleaner and more sustainable energy grid.
The energy-intensive nature of bitcoin mining has prompted mining companies to actively seek energy-efficient solutions. As competition increases and energy costs rise, miners have a strong incentive to find innovative ways to reduce their electricity consumption without compromising their mining capabilities. This has led to the development of more energy efficient hardware and cooling systems.
The decentralized nature of bitcoin mining can also drive net decentralization efforts. By promoting distributed energy resources (DERs) such as solar panels and home battery systems, bitcoin mining can facilitate network independence and resilience. In times of natural disasters or other calamities, these DERs can continue to operate autonomously, relieving the central grid and guaranteeing a stable energy supply.
By acting as a demand response mechanism, stabilizing the grid, encouraging investment in renewable energy, driving technological innovation, and encouraging decentralization, bitcoin mining offers several benefits that promote grid sustainability and resilience.
It is essential to recognize that discussions about the environmental impact of bitcoin mining should not be limited to isolated observations, but should consider the broader implications and opportunities for positive change. Through thoughtful regulation and the promotion of energy-efficient practices, the energy-intensive nature of bitcoin mining can be harnessed to make meaningful progress in the global energy landscape.