Bitcoin (BTC) miner Marathon Digital has introduced the acquisition of a wind farm in Hansford County, Texas, to bolster its sustainability efforts.
The wind farm, which boasts 240 megawatts (MW) of interconnection capability and 114 MW of nameplate wind capability, would be the basis for a brand new, sustainable knowledge heart.
Moreover, Marathon plans to develop and function a behind-the-meter facility powered totally by the positioning’s wind vitality, with zero-marginal vitality prices, successfully eliminating vitality bills for its operations.
The transaction is topic to customary closing circumstances, together with regulatory approvals, and is anticipated to shut by the primary quarter of 2025. As soon as finalized, it’ll mark a pivotal second within the firm’s ongoing effort to combine renewable vitality into its core enterprise operations.
Give attention to renewable vitality
This acquisition aligns with Marathon’s broader technique to convert underutilized renewable sources into financial worth. The corporate’s strategy goals to considerably scale back its vitality prices, alleviate grid congestion, and advance broader renewable vitality deployment, all whereas contributing to a cleaner vitality ecosystem.
Fred Thiel, Chairman and CEO of Marathon Digital, emphasised that the acquisition marks how vitality and knowledge heart sectors can collaborate to create long-term worth and foster sustainability initiatives.
He added:
“By repurposing machines and energizing them with 100% renewable, zero-marginal vitality value, we’re leveraging renewable sources that may have in any other case been curtailed, lowering our bitcoin manufacturing prices via vertical integration, and demonstrating Marathon’s dedication to environmental stewardship.”
The location will make the most of next-generation ASIC mining {hardware}, a few of which might have in any other case been written off or bought within the secondary market.
By means of Marathon’s Superior ASIC Retirement Initiative, the corporate will give these retired machines a second life powered by wind vitality that may in any other case be curtailed. This system guarantees to increase the {hardware}’s financial life whereas lowering mining operations’ environmental impression.
Marathon Digital CFO Salman Khan highlighted the venture’s monetary advantages, noting that the initiative is not going to solely prolong the lifespan of the mining tools but in addition improve the corporate’s return on capital employed.
The agency’s Bitcoin mining operations registered a document final month, with BTC manufacturing rising 26% month-over-month to 907 BTC and the hash charge surging 15% to achieve 46.1 EH/s.
Furthermore, Marathon revealed a plan to lift $700 million via a convertible senior notes providing, utilizing the proceeds to purchase Bitcoin and assist common company actions.