French lawmakers propose to use surplus electricity to mine BTC, to save €80 million in annual electricity waste
In 2024, France wasted electricity worth approximately €80 million. To address this issue, a group of lawmakers submitted Amendment No. 547 to the National Assembly, requesting that Bitcoin mining be included in the national energy plan.
From a technical perspective, Bitcoin mining machines have the ability to start and stop within seconds, making them an ideal choice for absorbing France's surplus nuclear power. With nuclear power accounting for over 70% of the electricity supply in France, these reactors are not designed to rapidly slow down when demand decreases, whereas mining operations can timely consume excess electricity, effectively balancing the grid load.
In terms of industrial layout, legislators plan to build mining centers near power plants and in idle old industrial areas due to factory closures. These areas not only have network connections and space conditions but can also create job opportunities for declining regions. Additionally, the heat generated by mining operations can be used for heating homes or factories, reducing energy costs for the community.
However, the plan still faces the challenge of balancing climate goals and carbon costs. Although the French power grid is primarily based on low-carbon energy, mining still consumes electricity, and if too many mining operations are introduced, authorities may be forced to extend the operating time of aging nuclear reactors or activate gas backup power plants, which could adversely affect France's established climate protection and emissions reduction goals. Therefore, the parliament needs to clearly limit mining capacity and link operations to actual electricity surpluses.
It is worth noting that France is not an isolated case. Belarus is initiating a study to utilize Bitcoin mining farms to absorb excess energy; Pakistan has reserved 2,000 megawatts of electricity for Bitcoin and AI data centers; and Texas also views Bitcoin mining as an important means to mitigate fluctuations in electricity supply.
In summary, this flexible and controllable electricity processing demand is key to the global grid's response to the challenges posed by green but unpredictable energy sources such as wind and solar.
What do you think about France's proposal to use surplus electricity for Bitcoin mining? Is it a good solution to energy waste or a potential threat to environmental goals? Leave your insights in the comments.
