According to "Norwegian National Radio", the Norwegian city of Hadsel (Hadsel) has closed the Bitcoin mine there, putting an end to the continuous noise for local residents; after that, they will also face the ensuing electricity bills. skyrocketed.
Hadsel Mayor Kjell-Børge Freiberg pointed out that in the past three years, the data center Stokmarknes Datasenter has been operating a Bitcoin mining business for a long time; in order to ensure the cooling of the mining machine, its round-the-clock fans have been irritating Hadsel residents; now the mine has finally The closure officially took place on September 14, and residents are quite happy with it.
Bitcoin mines are closed, and people’s electricity bills are soaring
On the other hand, since Stokmarknes Datasenter is the largest customer of the regional network company Noranet, accounting for about 20% of Noranet's revenue every year in the past, Noranet's revenue will decrease by 20% after Stokmarknes Datasenter ceases operations, which means missing power grid costs will turn into a burden for the people of Hadsel.
Stokmarknes Datasenter consumes 80 GWh of electricity per year, which is equivalent to the annual electricity consumption of 3,200 homes. Noranet network manager Robin Jakobsen estimates that the annual Internet fee for an average household in Hadsel is about 12,000 to 13,000 Norwegian kroner; after the closure of the Bitcoin mine, their annual Internet fee will rise to 2,500 to 3,000 Norwegian kroner (approximately 7,489 ~NT$8,987). Jakobsen believes that the surge in electricity bills is an inevitable impact of large customers like Bitcoin mining farms shutting down overnight.
Government looks for alternatives
The joy of the people of Hadsel has also dissipated since news of the increase in internet charges broke last Friday, with Freiberg saying:
"The way our electricity system is regulated is beyond the purview and control of the government, and we have to accept that."
Currently, the Hadsel municipality is looking for the next project that can be used to balance the grid. Freiberg emphasized that this is also a new opportunity for the people. What they expect is a physical industry that can create economic value, rather than another data center.
How to resolve the turmoil in Bitcoin mining farms?
In fact, the operation of Bitcoin mines does not necessarily have a negative impact on the economy; locating them near the power grid may be one of the solutions that can avoid public resentment and stimulate economic growth at the same time. According to previous reports by CryptoCity, Agile Energy, a subsidiary of Tokyo Electric Power Company of Japan, plans to install Bitcoin mining farms near solar power plants. Doing so will have at least four benefits:
Stay away from densely populated areas to reduce unnecessary disturbances
Bitcoin mining absorbs excess power generated by power plants to further prevent abnormalities in power generation equipment caused by excess power supply.
Bring extra profits to businesses and revitalize the local economy
Promote the development of green energy and renewable energy industries
It can be seen that the combination of Bitcoin mining farms and power infrastructure is expected to achieve win-win results. This two-pronged solution not only improves energy utilization efficiency and eliminates public complaints, but also introduces sustainable development to the regional economy, reflecting an important step for Bitcoin to achieve economic benefits and environmental co-prosperity.
