cryptojournalist
Capturing energy from gas flaring could become a massive $16 billion market, according to Mohamed El-Masri, CEO of PermianChain, a platform for tokenized energy trading. This approach transforms wasted natural gas into power for industries like Bitcoin mining and AI data centers, offering both economic and environmental benefits.
Transforming Wasted Energy into Profit
Every year, 147 billion cubic meters of natural gas are burned off globally during gas-flaring—a process that wastes energy and releases harmful emissions. El-Masri explains this wasted resource could generate $16 billion annually if converted into usable energy. Bitcoin mining, in particular, can significantly boost the value of this stranded energy by increasing its financial yield up to 12 times its market price.
Bitcoin Mining and Renewable Energy
Bitcoin miners often seek affordable, underused energy sources to stay competitive as computing difficulty rises. Gas-flaring isn’t the only solution—renewable energy also plays a key role. For example:
Kenya: Mining company MARA partnered with the Kenyan government to expand geothermal and hydroelectric energy, which together make up over 70% of the country’s renewable power supply.
Finland: MARA used excess heat from mining operations to warm an entire town in 2022.
Mining Turns Stranded Energy into Value
Bitcoin miners are exploring innovative ways to capture stranded energy—energy that is generated but cannot easily be transported or used. One study highlights landfill-gas-to-energy systems, which convert methane emissions into electricity for mining, reducing greenhouse gas impact and creating a low-cost energy source.
By tapping into wasted energy like gas flaring, the crypto and tech industries can create financial opportunities while addressing environmental challenges.
