Hardware manufacturer Canaan has unveiled a proof-of-concept project that combines Bitcoin mining with agriculture by using liquid-cooled computing equipment to recover waste heat for a commercial greenhouse in Manitoba, Canada. The initiative explores whether high-density computing infrastructure can serve as a reliable supplemental heat source in cold climates instead of releasing excess heat into the air.
3 MW Pilot Targets Year-Round Greenhouse Operations
The project is a 3 MW pilot conducted in partnership with Bitforest Investment, which will host the equipment at its greenhouse facility. Under a 24-month agreement, Canaan will deploy 360 Avalon A1566HA-460T liquid-cooled servers housed in four containerized cooling modules, with a target uptime of 95%. The greenhouse focuses on year-round tomato production.
Heat Recovery Integrated Into Existing Boiler Systems
Waste heat from the mining machines will be captured through a closed-loop heat-exchange system and used to preheat intake water for the greenhouse’s electric boilers. Canaan estimates that up to 90% of the electricity consumed by the servers could be transferred to the heating system, though final performance figures will be confirmed once the system is fully operational.
Project Evaluates Real-World Agricultural Performance Metrics
Beyond energy reuse, the pilot allows Canaan to assess heat recovery efficiency, system stability, and operational and maintenance demands under real agricultural conditions. The company views these metrics as critical for determining whether similar systems can be scaled across colder regions.
Cost Efficiency and Grid Flexibility Highlighted
Canaan expects the integrated design to reduce both capital and operating costs compared with traditional liquid-cooled data centers. By eliminating the need for industrial cooling towers and tying directly into the greenhouse’s boiler loop, the system achieves an estimated all-in power cost of about $0.035 per kilowatt-hour, with potential cost reductions through demand-response participation or power resale to the grid.
Environmental Benefits Address Carbon and Energy Waste
Large greenhouse facilities often rely on fossil-fuel boilers, and carbon pricing in regions like Canada is increasing pressure to adopt cleaner alternatives. Canaan said the system could circulate up to one million tonnes of hot water annually by recycling otherwise wasted heat, improving overall efficiency while lowering environmental impact.
Leadership Frames Project as a Sustainability Shift
Canaan Chairman and CEO Nangeng Zhang said the program will help measure, model, and scale heat recovery solutions for agriculture in cold climates. He emphasized that liquid cooling enables output temperatures above 75°C, making the recovered heat directly usable for greenhouse operations and aligning with broader sustainability goals.
Dual-Purpose Bitcoin Mining Continues to Evolve
The pilot is part of Canaan’s wider strategy to improve the efficiency of high-density computing by enabling practical energy reuse. Earlier efforts include the launch of the Avalon Mini 3, a Bitcoin mining device designed to double as a home heater.
Industry Expands Into Mining-Based Heating Solutions
Canaan is not alone in exploring dual-purpose mining hardware. Heatbit introduced similar devices in 2022, while third-party companies and DIY builders have adapted Bitmain’s Antminer models, including the S9 and S17, to function as both Bitcoin miners and space heaters.
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