Data Center Greenhouse Project

In 2023, an innovative project was launched to repurpose the heat produced by the Usk data center for a sustainable purpose; heating greenhouses. This concept quickly proved effective during the winter of 2023-24, as the greenhouse successfully maintained optimal conditions for growing various produce plants, despite the harsh winter weather.

The success of the initial phase has brought new energy to the project in 2024, with revamped management and an expanding network of community partnerships. Particularly exciting has been watching the project become a bridge, bringing together organizations that were once skeptical of the data center. These partnerships are now working towards a common goal, fostering sustainability and self-sufficiency within the community.

The greenhouse itself is heated by three miners (S19s JPROS). These ASICs not only generate the needed heat but have also been donated to three local high school technology classes and clubs. Merkle Standard continued to host the miners operation as they actively raise funds to support these schools. Looking ahead, the plan is to expand the greenhouse project allowing community benefiting food to be grown year-round. But Merkle Standard isn’t stopping there, we are also evaluating the possibility of nurturing tree saplings for reforestation efforts and the possibility of expanding into an aquaponics project, aimed at sustainable protein harvesting and fertilizer development. This initiative is more than just a greenhouse—it's a model for how technology and community collaboration can drive sustainable growth and innovation.

‍