To do this, he uses the method of anaerobic digestion.
Tom Campbell, a farm manager in County Armagh in Northern Ireland, produces renewable energy using a method called anaerobic digestion. This breaks down biodegradable materials to such an extent that methane gas is formed, which can already be used to generate electricity.
Campbell uses electricity mainly to power his farm, but when there is a surplus of energy that cannot be exported (sold) to the grid, he uses it to mine cryptocurrency. Mining involves the use of specialized miner computers to solve complex mathematical equations, and successful miners are rewarded in the form of BTC. Bitcoin mining requires a lot of energy, and Campbell’s farm produces up to 700 kilowatts of electricity, the equivalent of powering nearly 12,000 households.
The Irish government has set a goal of reducing greenhouse gas emissions by 25% by 2030. However, over 35% of these emissions come from the agricultural sector in Ireland, with cows being the main source. With 7.3 million cows in the country, the environmentally sound disposal of their waste is critical. Anaerobic digestion is a promising solution with the potential to generate enough electricity for every home in Ireland if 41% of farms switch to this technology. This can make a significant contribution to meeting a country’s greenhouse gas emission targets.
Campbell’s decision to mine bitcoin may seem unusual, but it makes sense from an economic standpoint. When demand for electricity on the grid is low, miners can use excess clean energy. In this way, Campbell can sell excess electricity to the grid as renewable, “green” electricity, while profiting from bitcoin mining.
