Canaan Inc., an innovator in crypto mining, has announced a 3.0 MW proof-of-concept (PoC) with Bitforest Investment Ltd. (the Host) in Manitoba, Canada, to recover heat from an Avalon computing system and use the heat as a supplemental source for greenhouse operations. The pilot is part of Canaan’s broader initiatives to make high-density computing operations more efficient through the use of cutting-edge semiconductor chips that create practical energy reuse across commercial and consumer applications. The project will also allow Canaan to evaluate key performance indicators for agricultural applications, such as heat recovery efficiency, system stability, and operating and maintenance intensity under real operating conditions.
Under the agreement, Canaan will deploy an Avalon computing system to be operated by the Host. Delivery will follow Bitforest’s notice to proceed. Heat captured from Canaan’s computing system will preheat the intake water for the site’s electric boilers through a closed-loop heat-exchange system, thus lowering the incremental energy required to meet target temperatures. The Host targets 95% uptime for the Canaan Equipment. Canaan estimates that approximately 90% of the electricity consumed by the computing servers will be captured and transferred to the heating system.