Landfills are major contributors to methane emissions, a potent greenhouse gas. Marathon’s partnership with Nodal Power successfully utilized methane from a landfill to power a digital asset data center with electricity, proving to be financially advantageous and beneficial for emissions reduction. This pilot project marked a significant development in “energy harvesting” initiatives, demonstrating the feasibility of converting waste into energy and reducing methane emissions effectively.
Key metrics tracked during the pilot project included average operational hash rate, operational uptime, methane utilized, carbon dioxide equivalent emissions (CO2e), and average fuel cost per kilowatt-hour. Over 240 days, approximately 16.1 million standard cubic feet (SCF) of methane was utilized, resulting in the prevention of millions of pounds of CO2e emissions. The project’s operational efficiency and uptime exceeded industry averages, showcasing the success of converting methane into electricity using a reciprocating engine on-site.
Financially, Nodal’s power plant generated electricity at a rate of $0.03 per kilowatt-hour, significantly lower than the industrial sector average of $0.08 per kilowatt-hour. The landfill benefited from generating revenue from the electricity generated, which would have otherwise been wasted if not utilized for the digital asset data center. The project did not qualify for carbon credits or renewable energy credits, potentially reducing computing expenses further if eligible.
In conclusion, Marathon and Nodal’s pilot project validated the viability of using digital asset compute to reduce methane emissions from landfills while being financially advantageous for all parties involved. By harnessing methane to power a data center, the project not only reduced emissions effectively but also created a new income stream for the landfill. This success opens doors for similar initiatives at landfill sites and other industries to tap into underutilized energy sources and promote sustainability.