Deutsche Telekom subsidiary MMS, in collaboration with Bankhaus Metzler, is launching a pilot project to operate a Bitcoin mining infrastructure using surplus energy. The mining is intended to be powered by electricity from renewable energy sources, which would otherwise remain unused due to insufficient grid input possibilities and/or lack of storage options. The pilot project aims to provide valid field data and insights to plan subsequent projects.
With the increasing production of electricity from renewable energy sources, the need to stabilize the energy grid (regulating power) also rises, as production peaks occur irregularly depending on the weather. Particularly through photovoltaic and wind power, there is an increasing amount of surplus energy. This regulating power through Bitcoin mining is already successfully practiced in other countries (including the USA and Finland). The pilot project aims to validate the process for Germany.
Due to the flexible load, Bitcoin miners could play an important role in balancing supply and demand in the energy grid in the future. The long-term goal is to use the data obtained from the pilot project to contribute to the stabilization of the energy grid during energy fluctuations that stress the grid. Additionally, wind power producers or photovoltaic plant operators could benefit from this technology, as they often face the challenge of unpredictable regulating power.
Source - www.telekom.com/en/media/media-information/archive/test-bitcoin-mining-infrastructure-for-surplus-energy-1082684
