Specifics of Data Mining Facilities as Energy Consumers

Abstract

In this paper the general aspects of energy consumption and environmental effects of cryptocurrency mining technology are considered. For the data mining equipment, the main technical specifications defining its energy efficiency are analyzed. The aggregation of separate units within data mining pools or installation of respective farms were shown to have the most prominent energy saving effect. Eventually some design and operation issues related to power supply of data mining pools are outlined. The sufficient amount of standards prescribing the power supply design for this new type of energy consumers is still missing. Considering the facility located in Moscow power supply of a data mining pool is studied and respective power quality survey is conducted. Finally, the impact of data mining equipment on the power factor and grid voltage variations is demonstrated.