I run my rigs on 100% hydroelectric power. And not only that, the dam is so close I could run my own extension cord to it... or, well, at least I can get there and back in a two hour walk.
I pay about 1% extra per kW/h for that. But I guess in reality that mostly means someone else pays 1% less for dirty power...
Topic: Run your rig on renewable energy? - page 2. (Read 5924 times)
As with all in-development technology, this is decidedly cool, but we'll see what the real world practical applications actually end up being. It might cost $10,000 / gram, and see no actual use, or it might not scale, or who knows.
The raw materials are not crazily expensive anyway, cobalt is the most expensive thing in there (~$40/lb currently) but there's not too much of it. Nickel and tin are in the $10-12 range and manganese is dirt cheap in comparison.
There was a video on Digg.com (or slashdot, dont remember) about a week ago about this new composite alloy that has no magnetic properties....unit it absorbs heat, then it is like a super magnet. Thus, making a heat powered magnetic motor.
here is the text article, google for the video
http://www.tgdaily.com/sustainability-features/56965-multiferroic-alloy-turns-waste-heat-to-energy
here is the text article, google for the video
http://www.tgdaily.com/sustainability-features/56965-multiferroic-alloy-turns-waste-heat-to-energy
As with all in-development technology, this is decidedly cool, but we'll see what the real world practical applications actually end up being. It might cost $10,000 / gram, and see no actual use, or it might not scale, or who knows.
Always nice to keep an eyeon these things though. Would be nice if this damn oven room was producing the electricity it needed to run. Also if it absorbs heat it can used as a cooler, yay.
There was a video on Digg.com (or slashdot, dont remember) about a week ago about this new composite alloy that has no magnetic properties....unit it absorbs heat, then it is like a super magnet. Thus, making a heat powered magnetic motor.
here is the text article, google for the video
http://www.tgdaily.com/sustainability-features/56965-multiferroic-alloy-turns-waste-heat-to-energy
here is the text article, google for the video
http://www.tgdaily.com/sustainability-features/56965-multiferroic-alloy-turns-waste-heat-to-energy
Why buy energy when you can get it for free (from untapped renewable energy resources).
because the equipment to harvest said untapped renewable energy resources is decidedly non-free.
No, if you want to save the environment then don't start mining.
Just like in the real world with coal.
Sorry, but that's nonsense. Bitcoin is actually a better way to save the environment than paper money is.Just like in the real world with coal.
You're simply adding to the wasted energy not removing it.
well bitcoin has the potential to replace paper money.
Also I'd like to inform everyone that running the rig on renewable energy is not about being environmentally friendly. Its all about the economics of it. Why buy energy when you can get it for free (from untapped renewable energy resources).
Because from a business perspective alone there are almost no options where alternative forms of energy are preferrable, excepting rare cases like being out in the wilderness of who-knows-where by yourself where costs of transmission are prohibitive and you can tap some natural resource.
For the majority of folk however looking PURELY at business side renewable is not cost-effective. If it were, everyone would have it. Even as "free energy" the cost for equipment and set up and all that whatnot puts the cost / watt generated higher than traditional forms of energy.
That's why you have to include other concerns, the environment, your local health concern, future resource supply shifts, etc. into the mix. But just looking at buying energy vs, generating it? You lose.
No, if you want to save the environment then don't start mining.
Just like in the real world with coal.
Sorry, but that's nonsense. Bitcoin is actually a better way to save the environment than paper money is.Just like in the real world with coal.
You're simply adding to the wasted energy not removing it.
well bitcoin has the potential to replace paper money.
Also I'd like to inform everyone that running the rig on renewable energy is not about being environmentally friendly. Its all about the economics of it. Why buy energy when you can get it for free (from untapped renewable energy resources).
No, if you want to save the environment then don't start mining.
Just like in the real world with coal.
Sorry, but that's nonsense. Bitcoin is actually a better way to save the environment than paper money is.Just like in the real world with coal.
You're simply adding to the wasted energy not removing it.
No, if you want to save the environment then don't start mining.
Just like in the real world with coal.
Sorry, but that's nonsense. Bitcoin is actually a better way to save the environment than paper money is. Just like in the real world with coal.
HAHA sterling engine:
Why not just rent space at a local power generator (hydro)? The owner/operator would eagerly rent you space and sell you very very cheap electricity...
This is especially true for countries outside of U.S. where everyone is looking for extra income.
The other option is to produce your own electricity and sell back to the grid. Then, your per Kw cost could be 0. The only problem with this option is how much is the capital expense? If we had solar technology that was much more efficient than it is today, this would work nicely.
This is especially true for countries outside of U.S. where everyone is looking for extra income.
The other option is to produce your own electricity and sell back to the grid. Then, your per Kw cost could be 0. The only problem with this option is how much is the capital expense? If we had solar technology that was much more efficient than it is today, this would work nicely.
Its possible but you have to understand that most large hydro is already connected to the grid. So why sell your energy for 1c/kwh when you can sell it to the grid for 5-6c/kwh? The only place that would work is in locations where there is no large market for energy like in some African village or something. Most of those microhydro projects were built by humanitarian groups and given to the tribe. But if you showed up and said, "hey, I'll pay you 1c/kwh for your excess energy." Then they would gladly jump at the offer because at their current situation NO ONE can afford to buy energy.
For the second statement that is ASSUMING you are connected to the grid in the first place. what if you are out in the Alaskan outback and you have a micro hydro project? Do you think you will be connected to the grid? Absolutely not. Those are the types of locations I am talking about. Some river/stream that is in the middle of no where but has the potential to generate 50-100kwh. A normal utility would not develop the resource because they would have to build a super expensive transmission line to bring the power to the market. So no one invests to build the hydro power station. These are the types of locations I am talking about.
The engineering would be pretty simple to do. The bigger problem is getting right of use permits and agreements from landowners. It would be better done in 3rd world countries rather than 1st world countries who are rather anti-growth at the present state.
For myself, right now I have most of money parked in the stock market making 3-5%/year. If I could invest in this project and get a return of 20-30% on my money then it would be well worth the risks.
Here is an interesting concept I was thinking about.
So we all know that the primary cost of the mining rig is the energy. For most, this is make or break. If the energy is too much you won't make any money. To solve this issue how about running the rig on renewable energy.
There are lots of places around the world that have awesome renewable energy resources that aren't tapped. Most of these resources aren't tapped because with renewable energy you need to build transmission lines so only the big renewable energy projects get developed. With running a rig there is no need for transmission line. Simply set up your renewable energy generators, connect to some transformers/power conditioning/battery then connect your rig to that. The ideal energy source would be a micro hydro setup that produces a couple KWs. If you are in a remote location then you can use satellite internet to connect to the internet.
Seems like a realistic idea if you live in a remote location.
So we all know that the primary cost of the mining rig is the energy. For most, this is make or break. If the energy is too much you won't make any money. To solve this issue how about running the rig on renewable energy.
There are lots of places around the world that have awesome renewable energy resources that aren't tapped. Most of these resources aren't tapped because with renewable energy you need to build transmission lines so only the big renewable energy projects get developed. With running a rig there is no need for transmission line. Simply set up your renewable energy generators, connect to some transformers/power conditioning/battery then connect your rig to that. The ideal energy source would be a micro hydro setup that produces a couple KWs. If you are in a remote location then you can use satellite internet to connect to the internet.
Seems like a realistic idea if you live in a remote location.
If people could do it right now (regardless of bitcoin) they would. Who wouldn't want to save money and have their tv/computer run for free?
Problem is it costs $1000s, you don't see the money for 5-10-15 years, and that's with huge tax breaks.
Energy is cheap and until it's no longer cheap there's not a lot of motivation to change.
I am thinking of this operation more of a business venture/investment opportunity. With that being said you have to think of it in that way. Also most people don't use renewable now because their renewable sources aren't very good. Location is key especially with geothermal and hydro.
Yes it can be expensive to build but as I have said, this is more of an investment.
It doesn't matter if energy is cheap right now. When it comes to bitcoin you have to be able to beat people who are operating at the cheapest price even if its 3-4c/kwh.
I live in Texas, and GME is more expensive to use in most places. I've lived in 3 areas in Texas since GME came on the scene a decade ago. It was .04 (actual .0004) pkw more expensive, then, and .03 more expensive where I live now. (deep south)
I agree. Great idea, if you live in Texas.
Oh man.
If you had the money to buy into solar or wind generation you'd be much better off to put it into more GPUs instead. Other than bragging rights to say you are "totally renewable" there's no way it would be profitable and not very earth friendly either.
You may be able to get your electric for free after you invest in the gear but the up front costs both in money and environmental impact of equipment would exceed the savings for quite some time. Probably you would have to keep adding more solar/wind to keep up with increasing difficulty and it would continually get harder to realize any payback.
No, if you want to save the environment then don't start mining.
Just like in the real world with coal.
If you had the money to buy into solar or wind generation you'd be much better off to put it into more GPUs instead. Other than bragging rights to say you are "totally renewable" there's no way it would be profitable and not very earth friendly either.
You may be able to get your electric for free after you invest in the gear but the up front costs both in money and environmental impact of equipment would exceed the savings for quite some time. Probably you would have to keep adding more solar/wind to keep up with increasing difficulty and it would continually get harder to realize any payback.
No, if you want to save the environment then don't start mining.
Just like in the real world with coal.
In Texas Green Mountain Energy supplies wind generated power. Since power is deregulated there, one can use this company.
http://www.greenmountainenergy.com/
IMHO this is a nice way to support renewable energy without capital investment.
Oh man.
If you had the money to buy into solar or wind generation you'd be much better off to put it into more GPUs instead. Other than bragging rights to say you are "totally renewable" there's no way it would be profitable and not very earth friendly either.
You may be able to get your electric for free after you invest in the gear but the up front costs both in money and environmental impact of equipment would exceed the savings for quite some time. Probably you would have to keep adding more solar/wind to keep up with increasing difficulty and it would continually get harder to realize any payback.
No, if you want to save the environment then don't start mining.
Just like in the real world with coal.
If you had the money to buy into solar or wind generation you'd be much better off to put it into more GPUs instead. Other than bragging rights to say you are "totally renewable" there's no way it would be profitable and not very earth friendly either.
You may be able to get your electric for free after you invest in the gear but the up front costs both in money and environmental impact of equipment would exceed the savings for quite some time. Probably you would have to keep adding more solar/wind to keep up with increasing difficulty and it would continually get harder to realize any payback.
No, if you want to save the environment then don't start mining.
Just like in the real world with coal.
Using 100% renewable energy without any CO2 emissions here, but I am thinking about moving to other sources. Renewable isn't enough, it should have minimum (negative) impact on nature. Currently I am trying to figure out which source is the best to achieve this.
Use 100% renewable to run a huge bitcoin farm, then funnel all the excess heat into a small steam turbine to run a desalinzation plant. No co2 and you even make some fresh water. Yay!
Why not just rent space at a local power generator (hydro)? The owner/operator would eagerly rent you space and sell you very very cheap electricity...
This is especially true for countries outside of U.S. where everyone is looking for extra income.
The other option is to produce your own electricity and sell back to the grid. Then, your per Kw cost could be 0. The only problem with this option is how much is the capital expense? If we had solar technology that was much more efficient than it is today, this would work nicely.
This is especially true for countries outside of U.S. where everyone is looking for extra income.
The other option is to produce your own electricity and sell back to the grid. Then, your per Kw cost could be 0. The only problem with this option is how much is the capital expense? If we had solar technology that was much more efficient than it is today, this would work nicely.
Using 100% renewable energy without any CO2 emissions here, but I am thinking about moving to other sources. Renewable isn't enough, it should have minimum (negative) impact on nature. Currently I am trying to figure out which source is the best to achieve this.
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