Canaan Inc. has begun a 3‑MW heat‑recovery proof‑of‑concept at a tomato greenhouse operated by Bitforest Investment Ltd. in Manitoba, Canada. The pilot deploys 360 Avalon A1566HA‑460T liquid‑cooled servers and four dedicated cooling modules, capturing up to 90 % of the servers’ electrical power as usable heat for the greenhouse’s heating system.
The system preheats intake water for the greenhouse’s electric boilers, potentially eliminating the need for industrial cooling towers and reducing the facility’s energy cost. The 24‑month pilot will validate heat‑recovery efficiency, system stability, and operating intensity, providing data that could support future deployments in similar cold‑climate agricultural operations.
Canaan’s initiative is part of a broader strategy to convert waste heat from its mining hardware into a commercial revenue stream and to demonstrate the scalability of its energy‑efficiency technology in a real‑world setting. By leveraging liquid cooling to output hot water above 75 °C, the company can directly supply greenhouse heating, aligning with industry trends that seek to repurpose mining heat for sustainable applications.
"This program will allow us to measure, model, and scale heat recovery for agriculture in colder climates," said Nangeng Zhang, Chairman and CEO of Canaan. "Liquid cooling enables us to output high‑temperature hot water above 75 °C, making compute heat directly usable for greenhouses." The 24‑month PoC will generate performance data that could open new markets beyond mining hardware.
The project underscores Canaan’s commitment to diversifying its business model and reducing its environmental footprint, positioning the company to capture value from waste heat in a sector that increasingly prioritizes sustainability.
The content on BeyondSPX is for informational purposes only and should not be construed as financial or investment advice. We are not financial advisors. Consult with a qualified professional before making any investment decisions. Any actions you take based on information from this site are solely at your own risk.