Re:The problem with Bitcoin miners
by quarky93 on Monday May 16, 2022 @12:21AM
(#31393652)
Because energy (at least currently) can not be easily transported, to where it can be used. Factories can not easily move to power plants due perhaps increased supply chain cost or labor cost. Whereas Bitcoin mining can be moved anywhere with a shed and an internet connection.
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Aluminum smelters are specifically sited to be near low cost power plants. Refined aluminum is essentially a storable and somewhat portable form of energy.
Good. Now try turning an aluminium smelter on and off when there's surplus/shortage of supply on the grid. Right, you don't.
Here's one key difference between many if not most large scale industrial processes and Bitcoin mining.
I still don't see the prerogative for bitcoin. Yes, most industrial processes are inefficient and we can and should reclaim lost energy. There are many ways to do this, and many purposes. Charging batteries seems the most reasonable: making the energy stable and portable.
Admittedly I don't know much about battery efficiency, so there may be other more efficient uses. Hydroponics lighting?
Where "waste energy" is difficult to access and available only in trickles, it's surely very unsuitable for bitcoin mining, which is energy intensive.
Frankly, there are far more pressing issues than making more bitcoin.