In a significant development for the cryptocurrency industry, a group of Bitcoin entrepreneurs announced the establishment of Volcano Energy, a private Bitcoin mining project fueled by a renewable energy generation park. The park, located in the El Shiste hamlet in the municipality of Metapán, Santa Ana, will have a total capacity of 241 megawatts (MW), comprising a combination of solar and wind energy. The project’s total investment commitment amounts to $1 billion, with an initial capital injection of $250 million.
Led by key industry leaders and in collaboration with renowned renewable energy technology developers and manufacturers, as well as global Bitcoin mining experts, Volcano Energy aims to position El Salvador as a prominent global player in the Bitcoin mining industry. The project also seeks to promote energy competitiveness, diversification, and the geographical expansion of the Bitcoin network. The entrepreneurs involved emphasize their unwavering commitment to establishing a global Bitcoin standard.
The energy generation capacity of the project will be divided between 169 MW of solar photovoltaic energy and 72 MW of wind energy, resulting in a combined total capacity of 241 MW. This significant milestone paves the way for the establishment of one of the world’s largest Bitcoin mining farms, boasting an initial computational power exceeding 1.3 exahashes per second (EH/s). This measure indicates the number of computational operations that a miner or the entire network of miners can perform.
Additionally, Tether, the company operating a fintech platform that powers the stablecoin Tether, has announced its participation in the project’s first investment round. Paolo Ardoino, the company’s Chief Technology Officer, explained that Tether would provide capital and share their expertise in energy, hardware, and communications. This strategic move by Tether underscores their excitement to be pioneers in renewable energy investments and advisors. They recognize Volcano Energy as a strategic initiative and aim to work closely with Josué López and his team to transform El Salvador into a global force in renewable energy production.
The Volcano Energy project not only represents a significant milestone for El Salvador but also highlights the increasing integration of renewable energy and blockchain technologies. This convergence of two cutting-edge industries has the potential to revolutionize the energy sector while driving sustainable and responsible cryptocurrency mining practices. As El Salvador embraces this ambitious project, the world will be watching closely, anticipating the country’s emergence as a global leader in Bitcoin mining and renewable energy production.