Mining Bitcoin Conserves Resources: MARA Offers Details on Water Usage
In the 21st century, water scarcity has become a central challenge affecting all economic sectors. This is particularly true for industries that are water-intensive, such as gold mining. However, a new player in the game, Bitcoin mining, is challenging this narrative by demonstrating a significantly lower water footprint.
Alex de Vries, an employee of the Dutch central bank, has regularly published studies and comments warning of the alleged catastrophic environmental impacts of Bitcoin. However, his work "Bitcoin's growing water footprint", published at the end of November 2023, presents a different picture. According to de Vries, Bitcoin mining consumes approximately 2.2 trillion liters of water annually, a figure that pales in comparison to the water consumption of a single large data center or a gold mine.
MARA, the largest Bitcoin mining company by market capitalization, has presented its own data on water consumption and shows that Bitcoin mining can be operated in an extremely resource-efficient manner. MARA's largest Bitcoin mining facility in Granbury, Texas, uses immersion cooling technology, which requires no water for cooling operations. This innovation alone reduces the direct water consumption significantly.
Water consumption is increasingly becoming an important indicator of ecological sustainability. MARA calculates the annual direct water consumption for its cooling and sanitary facilities in its mining operations in Germany to be approximately 1.5 million cubic meters. In contrast, the water consumption of MARA's Granbury facility in 2024 was 144,000 liters, primarily for sanitary purposes. If the water consumption of MARA's Granbury facility were applied to all other MARA facilities, the company's total operational water consumption would be about 576,000 liters per year.
De Vries distinguishes between direct consumption by cooling systems and indirect consumption through water-intensive power generation. It's important to note that hydropower is one of the most important energy sources of the Bitcoin network. This means that a significant portion of Bitcoin's water footprint is indirect, and the network's impact on water resources is not as direct as often portrayed.
Bitcoin should be understood as a sustainable future technology that can be part of the solution, not a resource problem. MARA's focus is on integrating Bitcoin mining into energy-efficient and environmentally friendly concepts, such as reducing methane emissions on landfills. Furthermore, Bitcoin mining is increasingly being integrated into projects that focus on resource-saving water treatment or even generate drinking water, contributing to the mitigation of global water scarcity.
Stefan, a media scientist and sinologist, working independently in the artistic-publishing sector, with a particular interest in the social and ecological aspects of Bitcoin and Bitcoin mining, echoes this sentiment. He notes that numerous exaggerated or misleading statements about the water consumption of Bitcoin have circulated in recent years. However, the facts paint a different picture—one of resource efficiency and potential for positive environmental impact.
In conclusion, while it's crucial to address the environmental impacts of Bitcoin mining, it's equally important to present an accurate and balanced view of the industry's water footprint. MARA's data suggests that with the right technologies and strategies, Bitcoin mining can indeed be operated in a way that minimizes its impact on water resources.
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