52% of Bitcoin Mining Now Powered by Green Energy—A Watershed Moment for BTC
The Bitcoin network just hit a sustainability milestone: over half of all mining now runs on renewable energy sources. This seismic shift comes as institutional players demand greener crypto and miners chase cheap hydroelectric power in places like Norway and Texas.
Proof-of-work’s energy hunger remains controversial—but today’s numbers show the industry is capable of radical evolution. Even ESG-focused funds might soon stop pretending they can’t see the math.
Meanwhile, oil execs quietly hedge their bets by buying mining rigs. Nothing greases the wheels of environmental progress like the smell of arbitrage profits.
Hydropower, Wind Lead the Renewables Mix
The energy mix in mining is not only cleaner, but more diverse. According to the CCAF data, hydropower and wind now lead the renewable mix, followed by nuclear and solar. Here’s how it breaks down:
Hydropower: 23.4%
Wind: 15.4%
Nuclear: 9.8%
Solar: 3.2%
Other renewables: 0.5%
Fossil fuels still make up 47.6% of the total, with natural gas (38.2%) being the largest single contributor. Coal is 8.9% and oil 0.5%.
Not perfect, but a big step in the right direction for Bitcoin’s evolution—especially as environmental pressure mounts.
Energy Costs Rise, Diversification is Key
Even as renewable energy increases, Bitcoin mining’s power consumption hasn’t decreased. In fact, the industry’s total electricity usage ROSE 17% year over year to 138 terawatt-hours—0.54% of global electricity consumption.
The financials are real too. Miners reported:
Median electricity cost: $45 per megawatt-hour
All-in operational cost: $55.50/MWh
Electricity makes up over 80% of operational expensesMiners need to diversify to stay profitable. Some are moving into high-performance computing (HPC) for AI processing. Others are looking at energy innovations like flared gas, waste heat recovery and demand side response solutions.
Bottom line:
Bitcoin mining isn’t just about coins anymore—it’s about survival, innovation and sustainability. And the move to clean energy is more than just a PR exercise; it’s the foundation of crypto’s future.
