Bitcoin production consumes 204.50 terawatt-hours of electricity annually, comparable to the power consumption of Thailand, and is estimated to generate between 22 and 22.9 million metric tons of carbon dioxide emissions a year.
By EB Content Studio
Kenya’s energy production company KenGen is offering bitcoin mining companies its surplus geothermal power to enable them to meet their energy needs.
The company disclosed that miners have been reaching out about buying its energy though no further details were available.
The plan is to have miners set up in an energy park at the company’s main geothermal power station in Olkaria, Naivasha, 123 km from the capital Nairobi.
“We have the space and the power is near, which helps with stability,” Peketsa Mwangi, KenGen’s geothermal development director, said during an energy forum.
The move could be a step in addressing the escalating carbon emissions from crypto mining, whose energy use rivals that of whole countries.
Kenya is Africa’s top geothermal energy producer with an installed capacity of 863 MW, most of which is supplied by KenGen. The country has an estimated geothermal potential of 10,000 MW spread along the Rift Valley circuit.
Overall, 80% of KenGen’s power generation comes from renewable sources, including hydro and wind in addition to geothermal, but the company does not disclose its excess power capacity.
Mwangi said power requests from miners have varied so far. “Some have requested to start with 20 MW and upscale later.”
KenGen says by offering clean energy, it will contribute to the reduction of carbon emissions caused by bitcoin mining. The Kenyan government, meanwhile, is considering creating a central bank digital currency, but maintains its stance against crypto trade because of the scams that arise from it.
Bitcoin production consumes 204.50 terawatt-hours of electricity annually, comparable to the power consumption of Thailand, and is estimated to generate between 22 and 22.9 million metric tons of carbon dioxide emissions a year. At 35%, the US now accounts for the largest share of global bitcoin mining after China banned crypto.
Ether, the second largest cryptocurrency, uses as much electricity as the Netherlands. However, the Ethereum blockchain has adopted the proof-of-stake system, which it believes reduces its energy consumption by 99%.
