UK project investigates landfill sites to power crypto mining

Mining

A UK authorities division (DEFRA) has launched a venture to research whether or not the methane from landfill websites will be harnessed with the intention to energy cryptocurrency miners.

A pioneering venture

The UK Division for Atmosphere, Meals, and Rural Affairs, (Defra), has launched a pioneering venture to look at the feasibility of utilizing landfill websites for cryptocurrency. Defra launched this initiative as half of a bigger effort to seek out different makes use of for landfill websites which are perceived by many individuals as being environmental hazards.

The venture has two fundamental goals. It goals to scale back cryptocurrency mining’s carbon footprint, which many understand as being infamous for its energy-intensive nature. The venture additionally goals to show the deserted landfills into belongings that generate income.

An effort to scale back carbon footprint

Mining cryptocurrency entails using specialised computer systems that remedy advanced mathematical equations. The miner is then rewarded with digital foreign money. This course of is energy-intensive and has been criticized for its adverse environmental influence. Defra intends to make use of landfill websites that emit methane as a supply of vitality for cryptocurrency mining. It will scale back the carbon footprint.

It is too early to inform if the venture will likely be profitable, however If that’s the case, the venture might be a mannequin for different international locations on the lookout for different makes use of for landfills.

Defra’s initiative could be a highly effective resolution to a fancy drawback. The corporate’s exploration of different makes use of for landfills addresses environmental considerations whereas on the similar time producing income. The venture’s success is but to be decided, however such an attention-grabbing use case will likely be properly value watching.