On January 6, 2026, Bitmain Technologies (Nasdaq: CAN) partnered with Bitforest Investment Ltd (ECOCHAIN) to launch a 3MW computing waste heat recovery proof-of-concept project in Manitoba, Canada. The project will use waste heat generated by Avalon computing systems to provide preheated water for local greenhouses via a closed-loop heat exchange system, thereby reducing fossil fuel consumption. This marks Bitmain's first agricultural-scale waste heat recovery application in a cold North American region, establishing a commercial benchmark for its dual-driven 'computing power-energy' strategy.
According to the agreement, Bitmain will deploy a computing system consisting of 360 A1566HA-460T liquid-cooled servers and four containerized liquid-cooling modules within 24 months. The system will utilize closed-loop heat exchangers to recover server waste heat for preheating electric boiler water in greenhouses, reducing the energy required for heating. It is estimated that approximately 90% of the server waste heat can be recovered and reused, with actual performance based on operational data.
The project combines capital and operational efficiency. Its heat recovery design eliminates the need for cooling towers typically required in liquid-cooled data centers, reducing initial investment. In operation, Bitmain enjoys a bundled electricity rate of $0.035 per kWh, covering both power supply and equipment maintenance. If Bitforest participates in grid demand response or electricity resale, Bitmain can also share the revenue, achieving mutual benefits.
Zhang Nangeng, Chairman and CEO of Bitmain Technology, said: 'This project aims to establish a quantifiable and financially tradable model of 'computing power heating.' Liquid cooling technology converts chip waste heat into usable energy, providing a sustainable thermal solution for agriculture in cold regions. In the future, this model can be extended to residential heating and industrial steam applications, promoting the transformation of computing infrastructure into energy assets.'
Against the backdrop of Canada's gradual implementation of carbon pricing, greenhouse operators urgently need cost-effective and low-carbon heating solutions. Bitmain's Avalon system connects 'chip waste heat' with existing boiler systems, recycling nearly one million tons of hot water annually, significantly improving energy efficiency and reducing carbon emissions.
Looking ahead, Bitmain will continue to expand the application scenarios of energy efficiency, covering industrial waste heat recovery, home mining heating devices, and high-efficiency Avalon computing systems, among other product lines, driving 'computing power as thermal energy' to become green infrastructure in homes, enterprises, and agriculture.