LAYTON - In a groundbreaking initiative to reduce the environmental impact of Bitcoin mining, Marathon Digital (NASDAQ:MARA) Holdings has teamed up with Nodal Power to utilize landfill gas as an innovative energy source. The project, located at the Davis landfill in Layton, owned by the Wasatch Integrated Waste Management (NYSE:WM) District, harnesses methane from organic waste decomposition to power Bitcoin miners.
The pilot site near Hill Air Force Base is a testament to the companies' commitment to sustainability and cost-efficiency. By fully burning landfill gas for electricity generation, the site manages to destroy more methane per month than traditional flaring methods. This not only provides Marathon with its cheapest energy source but also significantly reduces annual CO2 emissions associated with Bitcoin mining.
This partnership between Marathon Digital Holdings and Nodal Power dates back to a previous off-grid project in Price, where they initially used natural gas to power a Bitcoin mine. However, facing stiff competition from larger firms, Nodal Power shifted its focus towards addressing methane mitigation from landfills across the United States. Methane is a significant contributor to global warming, accounting for 14.3% of all methane emissions in the country.
Despite Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) regulations on landfill gas collection and flaring, a study conducted in 2022 suggested that the conversion rate through flaring was only 91%, contradicting the EPA's claim of 99%. The current project at Davis landfill not only challenges these figures but also enhances methane destruction efficiency.
The success of this sustainable endeavor has encouraged both Marathon Digital Holdings and Nodal Power to consider expanding their efforts. They aim to replicate this model across hundreds of landfills in the US and globally, particularly those lacking proper infrastructure.
Utah has been actively pursuing methane mitigation efforts. An oil field near Moab ceased flaring natural gas during oil production and began using it for Bitcoin mining. Additionally, a facility in North Salt Lake is converting food waste into natural gas and fertilizer. These initiatives are crucial given that Utah squandered approximately $48 million worth of natural gas in 2019, exacerbating air quality and climate issues.
As these two companies share revenues from their innovative project with location-agnostic Bitcoin miners, they demonstrate a viable path forward for integrating renewable energy solutions into cryptocurrency mining operations.
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