Harnessing Waste Heat: How Idaho's GeoBitmine is Revolutionizing Agriculture with Data Centers

Transforming Waste Heat into Green Opportunities

IDAHO FALLS — Data centers are becoming a cornerstone of America’s tech sector, powering innovations like artificial intelligence and cryptocurrency mining. However, they consume vast amounts of energy and produce significant waste heat. What if this waste could be repurposed to generate new revenue streams?

Enter GeoBitmine, an innovative startup from eastern Idaho. Founded by Jay Jorgensen, this company aims to merge small server farms with hydroponic greenhouse farming, utilizing the excess heat from servers to create optimal growing conditions throughout the year. This integrated approach not only maximizes land use but also addresses multiple needs within the community.

Technical Assistance and Collaboration

As a startup refining its operations, GeoBitmine sought guidance from the Idaho National Laboratory (INL)’s Technology Deployment group. They aimed to optimize their water and energy usage to enhance their impact on the regional energy landscape.

INL’s Technical Assistance Program (TAP) is designed to connect small businesses with the lab's expertise, offering up to 40 hours of free technical assistance. After evaluating GeoBitmine's request, INL paired them with Kara Cafferty, a senior researcher specializing in energy and water systems.

Cafferty noted, “GeoBitmine came to us with interesting questions that we were able to contextualize. It’s exciting to see businesses maximizing our energy and water systems.” Her analysis helped GeoBitmine refine its business plan by considering crop prices, transportation costs, and optimizing resource usage based on local weather patterns.

Community Impact and Job Creation

With these insights, GeoBitmine is progressing towards development plans that will create jobs in IT and agriculture, while also supporting food production in local communities. By repurposing waste heat and using less land than traditional data centers, GeoBitmine is reshaping industrial infrastructure into a community-beneficial solution.

Jorgensen expressed enthusiasm about their collaboration with INL, stating, “Their experts were invaluable in helping us evaluate key technical and logistical considerations.”

Supporting Small Businesses

INL’s TAP has assisted over 70 small businesses and government agencies in optimizing their market strategies. Jim Keating, who leads the TAP program, emphasized the importance of small businesses in driving innovation, stating, “As a national laboratory, we have the expertise to give startups the best chance to succeed.”

Eligibility for TAP

Businesses interested in TAP assistance should meet the following criteria:

• Services requested must not compete with private sector offerings.
• Assistance must align with INL’s areas of expertise.
• Requests should not interfere with ongoing INL programs.
• A maximum of 40 hours of assistance is allowed per request.

Eligible applicants must be U.S. companies with fewer than 500 employees. Those with more than 500 employees should apply through INL’s Strategic Partnership Project program.

Interested companies can submit a request via the Technical Assistance form.