[Scientific paper believes that Bitcoin mining can reduce methane emissions]
A scientific paper published in the August 29 edition of the Journal of Cleaner Production shows how Bitcoin mining can reduce methane emissions through a landfill gas to electricity (LFGTE) system. The system captures and converts methane gas in landfills into usable energy, reducing the impact of greenhouse gases on the atmosphere.
The paper points out that Bitcoin mining provides an incentive structure suitable for capital-intensive long-term projects, which is difficult for other private enterprises to achieve. The researchers said: "Bitcoin's economic incentives, applicable to miners anywhere in the world, may become an innovative solution to encourage methane emission reduction without the need for government incentives. This is a rapid deployment solution that can expand functionality."
In addition, this incentive structure also applies to the recovery of underutilized energy from "abandoned oil wells, natural gas wells, wastewater treatment plants, farms and agricultural processing operations."
In 2023, Marathon Digital (now MARA) partnered with Nodal Power to use Utah methane gas for Bitcoin mining. The project aims to diversify operations, reduce energy costs, and improve the environment by utilizing the characteristics of Bitcoin mining. In May 2024, MARA even collaborated with the Kenyan government to develop renewable energy infrastructure.
This research paper is not the first time that Bitcoin miners reduce emissions by repurposing underutilized energy. In 2023, research from the Risk Management Institute showed that Bitcoin mining could reduce global emissions by about 8% by 2030.
