AgriFORCE Growing Systems Ltd., a Canadian agricultural company, has officially entered the cryptocurrency mining space by launching a Bitcoin mining operation in Alberta, Canada. This initiative is powered by stranded natural gas, offering an innovative approach to energy utilization.

AgriFORCE’s First Bitcoin Mining Deployment

In a recent announcement, AgriFORCE introduced its first operational site under the Power & Compute Initiative, located in Berwyn, Alberta. This facility operates with a capacity of 425 kilowatts (kW) and supports 120 Bitmain S21 ASIC miners, achieving over 32 petahashes per second (PH/s) of computing power.

The mining site includes a custom-engineered pod designed for optimized airflow and thermal management. Additionally, it incorporates BlueFlare Energy’s proprietary telemetry system for real-time performance monitoring. This setup ensures efficient and reliable mining operations.

Stranded Natural Gas: A Sustainable Power Source

The Berwyn facility is powered entirely by stranded natural gas, which refers to natural gas that cannot be accessed or sold through traditional infrastructure. By utilizing this otherwise wasted resource, AgriFORCE contributes to more sustainable energy practices within the cryptocurrency mining industry.

The site is also equipped with BlueFlare’s Carbon Cube emissions tracking system, which ensures compliance with environmental standards while providing real-time data on carbon emissions. This emphasis on sustainability aligns with the broader industry trend of reducing the environmental impact of Bitcoin mining.

Expansion Plans and Increased Capacity

AgriFORCE is already working on Phase 2 of the Berwyn project, which aims to add an additional 200 kW of capacity. Once completed, the site’s total capacity will surpass 625 kW, further boosting its mining efficiency and output.

To date, the company has mined seven Bitcoin across its operations in Alberta and Ohio, with an estimated value of $735,000. AgriFORCE plans to retain up to 50% of the Bitcoin mined as part of its corporate treasury strategy, while the other half will be reinvested into infrastructure expansion.

Future Sites in Alberta

In partnership with BlueFlare Energy, AgriFORCE has signed a binding letter of intent to develop two additional mining sites in Alberta, located in Oyen and Hinton. These new facilities will replicate the Berwyn model, including modular, off-grid gas-to-power units with a capacity of approximately 640 kW each.

Beyond Bitcoin mining, these sites will also support workloads such as AI inference, industrial IoT processing, and edge computing, diversifying their utility and potential revenue streams.

Scaling Up Mining Capacity

AgriFORCE has set ambitious goals for its mining operations. The company aims to scale its capacity to over 0.5 exahashes per second (EH/s) by the fourth quarter of 2025, with a long-term target of reaching 1 EH/s by the first quarter of 2026. This expansion positions the company as a growing player in the Bitcoin mining sector.

Energy Trends in Bitcoin Mining

As Bitcoin mining continues to grow more energy-intensive, operators are increasingly turning to alternative power sources to manage costs and improve sustainability. The adoption of renewable energy by miners is currently increasing at an annual rate of 5.8%, reflecting a global shift toward cleaner energy solutions.

Stranded natural gas and other renewable resources are becoming key components of sustainable mining strategies. These efforts not only reduce environmental impact but also enhance the profitability of mining operations by lowering energy costs.

Global Efforts to Promote Sustainable Mining

Governments and organizations worldwide are supporting initiatives to promote sustainable cryptocurrency mining. For example, earlier this year, the United States proposed the FLARE Act, which offers tax incentives to miners utilizing flared natural gas. This legislation encourages the repurposing of wasted energy into productive uses like Bitcoin mining.

Meanwhile, Pakistan has announced plans to allocate 2,000 megawatts of surplus electricity for Bitcoin mining and AI data centers. This strategy aims to prevent energy wastage while attracting investment in the country’s growing tech sector.

AgriFORCE’s innovative use of stranded natural gas and its commitment to sustainability reflect the evolving landscape of cryptocurrency mining. As the industry adapts to environmental and economic challenges, initiatives like these highlight how technology and energy solutions can converge to drive progress.

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