Bitcoin mining using coal energy has decreased by 43% since 2011

Over the last 13 years, the use of hydrocarbon fuels in Bitcoin mining has significantly decreased, with a notable reduction in the share of coal energy usage. According to a new report published by the industry organization MiCA Crypto Alliance in collaboration with the risk metrics data platform Nodiens, the share of coal energy used in Bitcoin mining has fallen from 63% in 2011 to 20% in 2024.

At the same time, the share of renewable energy sources used for Bitcoin mining is steadily increasing, growing by an average of 5.8% per year. The report also discusses the expected peak in energy consumption for Bitcoin mining around 2030, which coincides with a similar forecast in a study by the digital asset platform NYDIG published in September 2021.

According to NYDIG's estimates, even in a high-price scenario, energy consumption by the Bitcoin network will exceed the 2020 level by 11 times, accounting for 0.4% of global primary energy consumption and 2% of global electricity production.