Bitcoin mining firm Canaan is experimenting with an unusual pairing of high-tech computing and agriculture. The hardware manufacturer has launched a proof-of-concept project that uses waste heat from Bitcoin mining equipment to help heat a commercial tomato greenhouse in Manitoba, Canada.
Announced Tuesday, the initiative aims to show that energy-intensive computing systems can serve a practical purpose beyond data processing, especially in colder regions where heat is in constant demand. Instead of releasing excess heat into the air, the project captures it and redirects it to support year-round food production.
The 3-megawatt pilot is being carried out with Bitforest Investment, which is hosting the equipment at its greenhouse facility. Under a 24-month agreement, Canaan will install 360 Avalon A1566HA-460T liquid-cooled computing servers across four containerized cooling units. Bitforest is targeting a 95% uptime rate for the machines, which will operate alongside its tomato cultivation business.
Heat produced by the servers will be recovered through a closed-loop heat exchange system and used to preheat water feeding the greenhouse’s electric boilers. Canaan estimates that up to 90% of the electricity consumed by the mining equipment could be transferred into usable heat, though the company noted that real-world results will be confirmed once the system is fully operational.
Beyond heat recovery, the project is designed to gather data on how such systems perform in agricultural settings. Canaan plans to assess factors such as thermal efficiency, operational stability, and maintenance requirements under continuous use.
The company also believes the integrated design could lower both upfront and ongoing costs compared with traditional liquid-cooled data centers. By feeding recovered heat directly into the greenhouse’s existing boiler system, the setup avoids the need for large industrial cooling towers. Canaan reported an estimated all-in power cost of about $0.035 per kilowatt-hour, covering electricity, operations, and maintenance, with potential savings if Bitforest participates in demand-response programs or sells power back to the grid.
Greenhouses of this scale typically depend on fossil fuels for heating, and regions such as Canada have introduced carbon pricing to encourage lower-emission solutions. Canaan said the system is designed to circulate up to one million tonnes of hot water per year by reusing heat that would otherwise be wasted, improving efficiency while reducing environmental impact.
“This program will allow us to measure, model, and scale heat recovery for agriculture in colder climates,” said Canaan chairman and CEO Nangeng Zhang. He noted that liquid cooling enables the system to deliver hot water above 75°C, making it directly useful for greenhouse operations.
The Manitoba project builds on Canaan’s broader push to develop dual-purpose computing systems. In January last year, the company introduced the Avalon Mini 3, a Bitcoin miner designed to double as a home heater. Other companies have explored similar ideas, including Heatbit and independent developers who have repurposed existing mining machines for residential heating.
By combining Bitcoin mining with food production, Canaan’s latest pilot highlights how emerging technologies could be adapted to reduce waste and support more sustainable industrial models. If successful, the approach could offer a new blueprint for how energy-intensive computing fits into colder, resource-conscious economies.
