En+ Group, the world’s top producer of low-carbon aluminum and the largest private-sector generator of hydropower, has entered its first crypto mining joint venture. The new venture, called Bit+, will focus on creating facilities that support crypto mining with a low carbon footprint. En+ Group’s partner in Bit+ is the Russian company BitRiver, which provides hosting services and turnkey solutions for large-scale, institutional crypto mining operations. BitRiver currently operates the largest data center offering colocation services for Bitcoin (BTC) mining in the Russian Federation and offers similar services across the country and to CIS neighbors. The first result of the …

The IOTA Foundation, a non-profit organization behind the IOTA blockchain, is collaborating with Japan’s government on a project targeting industrial infrastructure. The foundation has partnered on a project initiated by major Japanese maintenance companies, Best Materia and IMC, IOTA representatives announced on Oct. 27. The project is funded by the New Energy and Industrial Technology Development Organization, a national research and development agency operating under Japan’s Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry. According to an announcement, the initiative intends to implement artificial intelligence and distributed ledger technology to risk-based maintenance systems in power, industrial, petrochemicals and oil refining plants. Dominik …

A blockchain-based energy trading platform backed by German tech giant Siemens is being publicly demonstrated in a Bavarian municipality today. The so-called “Pebbles” project — short for “peer-to-peer energy trading based on blockchains” — is holding a virtual demo of its blockchain-based marketplace platform for optimized electricity trading. The demo was officially announced by the project on Oct. 22. The public demonstration of Pebbles’ energy platform in the town of Wildpoldsried in Bavarian marks a major milestone after the project was launched in March 2018. Funded by German Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Energy, Pebbles is a joint initiative …

The Deutsche Energie-Agentur, also known as DENA — the main governmental group responsible for energy innovation in Germany — is looking to move its energy ecosystem to a decentralized database. “When infrastructure can’t go down - when the lights need to stay on - the systems you use need to be resilient, and decentralized technologies deliver that,” Parity Technologies head of public affairs, Peter Mauric, told Cointelegraph. Parity Technologies stands as one of the companies involved in DENA’s project. Mauric added: “The concept of microgrids — smaller, decentralized energy grids to improve resiliency energy generation, storage and distribution — have …

The Port of Rotterdam's blockchain subsidiary, Blocklab, has been trialing a decentralized electricity trading system to help lower costs and optimize the use of renewables on its microgrid. The system, called Distro, has been jointly developed by Blocklab and S&P Global Platts and has been operational as a trial for two months. Distro uses blockchain technology, smart contracts and artificial intelligence to support the decentralized, high-frequency trading of renewable energy by commercial consumers looking to optimize and manage their energy use. It matches demand with the intermittent power generated from different sources, specifically solar and battery storage. Each market participant …

The rising energy demand of proof-of-work cryptocurrencies such as Bitcoin (BTC) has been a hotly debated topic. But the 3rd Global Cryptoasset Benchmarking Study by the University of Cambridge shows that 76% of cryptocurrency miners use electricity from renewable energy sources as part of their energy mix. The study found that over 39% of the total energy consumed by PoW cryptocurrencies including Bitcoin, Ether (ETH), Bitcoin Cash (BCH) and others comes from renewable energy sources. This is in contrast to a previous such study by the university, which found that only 28% of the total energy consumed for cryptocurrency mining …

The Organisation of the Petroleum Exporting Countries has announced that its Second Workshop on Energy and Information Technology will be held on Sep. 21 via videoconference. This year’s event sees blockchain technology join the range of energy and tech-related topics to be discussed. However, it is unlikely that the invited oil industry bigwigs will be discussing the energy consumption characteristics of cryptocurrency. The organization is more interested in streamlining aspects such as the supply chain, as OPEC secretary general Mohammad Sanusi Barkindo explained: “The energy industry, particularly the oil sector, has always been eager to utilize and develop the latest …

Blockchain-enabled approaches to advancing the transition to renewable energy sources are making inroads in new regions. On Aug. 25, Australian blockchain firm Power Ledger announced its forthcoming launch of a marketplace for trading renewable energy certificates (RECs) across Thailand and the Southeast Asian region. The project builds on Power Ledger’s long-standing collaboration with Thai renewable energy firm BCPG. Their earliest joint project dates back to 2018, when they conducted a peer-to-peer renewable energy trading trial in one of Bangkok’s central precincts. Since then, Power Ledger has worked together with BCPG and the Thai Digital Energy Development (TDED) on developing a …

German energy firm Uniper Global Commodities SE has implemented a blockchain-based platform for its small-scale liquefied natural gas customers (ssLNG). Using the platform, Uniper expects to make its trade process more efficient and also streamline LNG distribution for its LNG-for-trucks subsidiary, Liqvis GmbH. Rising concerns regarding air pollution have moved major companies towards utilizing eco-friendly fuel such as LNG in the transport industry, especially in commercial trucks. This has made it more crucial to make ssLNG trade process more efficient. However, most small-scale businesses face difficulties utilizing the growing demand for LNG due to the lack of a cost-effective supply …

Malaysian police arrested four cryptocurrency mining operators after discovering that they were stealing electricity from the state-owned power firm, Sarawak Energy Berhad, or SEB. According to Malay Mail, authorities spent two days cracking down on four shophouses, believed to be housing cryptocurrency mining centers. The shophouses were located in the cities of Jalan Tun Ahmad Zaidi Adruce, Jalan Pahlawan and Jalan Tunku Abdul Rahman. According to the investigation, the thieves stole over $59,000 per month from the power company. The Electrical Inspectorate Unit, or EIU, from the Sarawak Ministry of Utilities, also participated in the operation. They provided additional details …

Energy and transportation startup EVShare is launching a community energy-sharing pilot in Los Angeles. The initiative, which received $20 million in partner funding and a $9 million grant from the California Energy Commission, is set to test the application of blockchain technology in managing a localized renewable energy grid. The system relies on connecting local solar energy systems with electricity-based transportation to create an organic energy market. The goal is to connect 50 households to a localized grid used to provide energy for a pool of shared electric vans. A blockchain system based on the RSK Bitcoin sidechain and the …

Law enforcement authorities in Kyrgyzstan have reportedly detected an illegal cryptocurrency mining farm on the territory of a local free economic zone (FEZ). The State Service for Combating Economic Crimes, an anti-corruption service in the Kyrgyz Republic, has reportedly discovered a large-scale mining farm at FEZ Bishkek. Kyrgyz authorities posted a video of the facility on YouTube on Aug. 7. Government officials are involved During on-site inspections, local enforcement officials found crypto mining devices connected to electricity and the Internet. According to local news agency 24.kg, authorities have launched an investigation into the origins of miners and energy sources. Members …