Canaan, a hardware manufacturer known for Bitcoin mining equipment, has launched a 3 MW proof-of-concept in Manitoba, Canada, designed to reuse waste heat from liquid-cooled servers to supplement greenhouse operations.
The pilot, conducted in partnership with Bitforest Investment, deploys 360 Avalon A1566HA-460T servers in four containerized modules. Heat captured from the mining process is integrated into the greenhouse’s boiler system, targeting 95% uptime while supporting year-round tomato cultivation.
Initial estimates suggest up to 90% of the servers’ electricity consumption can be converted into usable thermal energy, although actual performance will be assessed during operation.
Operational and Financial Considerations
The project aims to evaluate heat recovery efficiency, system stability, and operating intensity under real-world conditions. By linking the mining infrastructure directly to the greenhouse’s heating loop, Canaan anticipates reductions in both capital and operating expenditures compared with conventional liquid-cooled data centers.
The company cites an all-in power cost of approximately $0.035 per kilowatt-hour, with potential revenue enhancements if excess energy is sold to the grid or leveraged in demand-response programs. This approach also bypasses the need for industrial cooling towers, contributing to a more sustainable, cost-efficient operational model.
Broader Market and Environmental Context
Large-scale greenhouses in Canada and other regions commonly rely on fossil-fuel boilers, with carbon pricing initiatives incentivizing lower-emission alternatives. Canaan’s model repurposes heat that would otherwise be lost, circulating up to one million tonnes of hot water annually, supporting both energy efficiency and reduced emissions.
The pilot aligns with Canaan’s broader strategy of dual-purpose mining solutions, following its Avalon Mini 3 device that functions as both a Bitcoin miner and home heater. The initiative highlights growing institutional and industrial interest in multi-use computing infrastructure as a tool for sustainability and operational innovation.
