Bitcoin miners turn tomato greenhouses with 3MW waste-heat project

Canaan’s 3MW Manitoba pilot reuses Avalon rigs’ waste heat to warm Bitforest tomato greenhouses, cutting fossil fuel use.

Bitcoin mining hardware manufacturer Canaan announced plans to convert heat generated by mining operations into a heating source for tomato cultivation in Canada, according to a company statement.

The firm unveiled a partnership with Bitforest Investment in Manitoba to develop a 3-megawatt pilot program aimed at reusing thermal energy from mining machines to support agricultural greenhouse operations.

The project involves recovering heat generated by Avalon A1566HA-460T mining machines and using it as a supplementary energy source for greenhouse facilities. The 24-month pilot program utilizes Canaan’s liquid-cooling systems to capture thermal energy and preheat water feeding the greenhouses’ electric boilers, reducing overall energy demand, the company stated.

Nangeng Zhang, Chairman and CEO of Canaan, said the objective extends beyond installing equipment for a single project. The company aims to create a data-driven, replicable model that will enable measurement, modeling, and scaling of heat recovery for agricultural use in cold climates, according to Zhang.

The system integrates with Bitforest’s greenhouse operations by recycling heat from mining equipment that would otherwise be dissipated, reducing dependence on fossil-fuel-powered boilers. Canaan will install 360 liquid-cooled units as part of the initiative. Bitforest operates tomato production facilities in Manitoba.

The move follows similar environmental initiatives in the cryptocurrency mining sector. Phoenix Group announced a 30-megawatt facility in Ethiopia powered by hydroelectric energy in November, according to industry reports.