According to Odaily, Pierre Rochard, Vice President of Research at Riot Platforms, highlighted that in Texas, excess electricity production has occasionally driven prices down to zero. Bitcoin miners have been able to absorb this surplus energy, effectively stabilizing the power grid. This analysis comes amid ongoing criticism of Bitcoin mining for its energy consumption and environmental impact. However, it also offers significant benefits, particularly in terms of grid stability and energy efficiency. A key advantage is that Bitcoin miners can quickly turn their mining equipment on and off, responding to fluctuations in energy demand.
In related news, Agile Energy X, a subsidiary of Tokyo Electric Power Grid, announced earlier today that it has begun installing Bitcoin mining equipment next to solar power plants in Tochigi and Gunma prefectures. This initiative aims to utilize surplus renewable energy for mining experiments. If 10% of this energy is used for Bitcoin mining, it is expected to generate approximately 360 billion yen (2.5 billion USD) in annual revenue. This move seeks to address the issue of power wastage due to the volatility of renewable energy generation while supporting Japan's goal of achieving carbon neutrality by 2050.
