Data centres and cryptomining demonstrate support for the grid

Initiatives by a Voltus, Coinmint partnership and Soluna Computing are demonstrating how data centres and cryptomining can be ‘greener’.

The partnership between Puerto Rico headquartered Bitcoin miner Coinmint and Voltus with its distributed energy resource software technology platform is delivering 100MW of demand response to the New York Independent System Operator (NYISO).

New York-based Soluna Computing’s approach, on the other hand, is focussed on the development of small footprint data centres in the vicinity of renewable plants to use their excess power.

While different in approach – and neither are unique – both are actively demonstrating what amounts to a curtailing of cryptomining or other data centre activities during high demand periods and how such operations can more effectively support the energy system.

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Coinmint, through its subsidiary North Country Colocation Services, operates what is believed to be one of the world’s largest digital currency data centres in a former Alcoa Aluminum smelter in Massena, New York.

Through Voltus’s platform the centre, which is powered almost exclusively by hydro, is integrated directly into the grid.

“Voltus’s innovative platform allows us to deliver load flexibility to NYISO, supporting grid reliability,” says Ashton Soniat, CEO of Coinmint.

“Voltus can remotely reduce our electricity consumption nearly to zero, helping to keep the homes and communities around us fully powered,” he explains.

Voltus asserts to being the only distributed resource software platform integrated into all nine US and Canadian wholesale power markets.

“Our technology allows blockchain data centre companies like Coinmint to operate more efficiently and diversify their offerings, while also furthering their ESG goals by providing critical local electricity support,” comments Gregg Dixon, Voltus CEO and co-founder.

Using excess renewables

Soluna Computing currently has three centres in operation for a total of over 50MW at its 25MW Marie and Sophie facilities in Kentucky and the 3.3MW Edith project in Washington. All of these are powered by hydropower.

A further facility, wind powered 50MW Dorothy is under construction in Texas and the company is targeting over 150MW by the end of the year, with a corresponding factor three increase over the year in its Bitcoin mining hashrate.

“We are pleased to report a continued operating ramp,” said Michael Toporek, CEO of Soluna Holdings, in the company’s latest monthly update.

“Importantly, our project pipeline remains robust as we focus on becoming a leading curtailment solutions provider to the renewable energy industry.”

While the focus of operations is currently on cryptocurrency mining, Toporek adds that the company is also looking at additional data centre applications, such as graphics, video processing and scientific and pharma research.

“These are very significant opportunities for batchable dense computing,” he comments.