Bitcoin miner TeraWulf has launched a new 100% nuclear-powered “behind the counter” mining facility in Pennsylvania.
US-based Bitcoin miner TeraWulf has launched a new cryptocurrency mining facility in Pennsylvania powered solely by on-site nuclear power.
In a March 6 statement, TeraWulf said the Nautilus Cryptomining facility is the first “behind the counter” facility for Bitcoin.
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mining facilities, i.e. where electricity is generated directly without providing electricity.
Nautilus Cryptomine receives carbon-free baseline power directly on site from the 2.5 gigawatt (GW) Susquehanna Nuclear Power Plant.
Paul Prager, president and chief executive officer of TeraWulf, said the Nautilus mining rig “has the lowest cost in the industry at just $0.02/kWh in five years.”
The firm has also brought nearly 8,000 mining rigs online with a computing power of 1.0 exahash per second (EH/s) and plans to add another 8,000 miners by May, increasing the hash rate to 1.9 EH/s . .
TeraWulf owns a 50 megawatt (MW) stake in the first phase of the new joint venture facility with Cumulus Coin, but could add another 50 MW of BTC mining capacity in future phases.
According to TeraWulf’s website, the Nautilus cryptomine is expected to reach 300 MW when operational, making it one of the largest mines in North America.
First announced in August 2021, the Nautilus Cryptomine facility is the result of a partnership between the nuclear mining facility subsidiary of TeraWulf and Talen Energy Corporation, a power generation and infrastructure company.
Phase 1 of the joint venture includes the 180 MW Nautilus Kryptomine, built on a digital infrastructure campus adjacent to the Talen Nuclear Power Plant.
TeraWulf produces domestically produced BTCs powered by nuclear, hydro and solar energy with the goal of using 100% carbon-free energy.
Related: US Lawmakers Renew Call on EPA to Investigate Crypto Mining Emissions Data
Concerns Over Environmental Impact of BTC Mining In recent years, there has been heated debate about the environmental and energy impacts surrounding crypto-asset mining.
Last year, New York signed a two-year moratorium banning new fossil-fueled bitcoin miners from setting up shop in the state.
Last October, Europe took steps to take regulatory action on the environmental impact of cryptocurrencies.
