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Re:Bitcoin emissions alone could push global warming above 2... by eloff on Sunday January 17, 2021 @04:59PM (#25815504)
The capital expenditure is sufficient that it still makes sense to run the miners 24/7 and not try to take advantage of cheap electricity - although that does matter somewhat when deciding where to place the data center.

This is true of pretty much every industrial process. The idea of running production only when the sun is shining to absorb excess solar seems like a universally poor idea.

Re:Bitcoin emissions alone could push global warming above 2... by spiorf on Sunday January 17, 2021 @05:04PM (#25815555)
Rarely industrial process can switch on and off randomly and still scale revenue linearly.

The capital expenditure argument makes sense when mining is the primary business. Using old and otherwise unprofitable (but cheap) hardware makes sense where there is intermittent excess energy.

Re:Bitcoin emissions alone could push global warming above 2... by imtringued on Sunday January 17, 2021 @07:53PM (#25816989)
Having cheap energy 50% of the time is still better than 0% of the time.
Re:Bitcoin emissions alone could push global warming above 2... by eloff on Monday January 18, 2021 @08:47AM (#25821702)
Of course, that goes without saying.