Crypto mining company Canaan Inc. has announced a 3.0 MW proof-of-concept (PoC) with Bitforest Investment to recover heat from an Avalon computing system and use the heat as a supplemental source for greenhouse operations. The pilot is part of Canaan's broader initiatives to make high-density computing operations more efficient through the use of cutting-edge semiconductor chips that create practical energy reuse across commercial and consumer applications.
Under the agreement, for an initial 24-month term, Canaan will deploy an Avalon computing system consisting of 360 units of the Avalon A1566HA-460T liquid-cooled computing servers and four liquid-cooling container modules to be operated by the host. Delivery will follow Bitforest's notice to proceed. Heat captured from Canaan's computing system will preheat the intake water for the site's electric boilers through a closed-loop heat-exchange system, thus lowering the incremental energy required to meet target temperatures.
"With this PoC, we are not just deploying computing equipment for one project—we hope to build a data-driven, replicable model," said Nangeng Zhang, chairman and chief executive officer of Canaan. "This program will allow us to measure, model, and scale heat recovery for agriculture in colder climates. Liquid cooling enables us to output high-temperature hot water above 75°C, making compute heat directly usable for greenhouses. The PoC expands our broader efforts to rethink how computing infrastructure can enhance energy sustainability for households, businesses, and industrial partners."
Large greenhouse facilities often rely on fossil-fueled boilers as their primary heat source. Several regions, including Canada, have adopted carbon pricing to encourage lower-carbon heating options in greenhouses. Canaan's Avalon computing system will provide supplemental heat that ties into Bitforest's existing boiler loop. The combined setup is designed to deliver up to one million tonnes of hot water annually by recycling heat from computing servers that would otherwise be wasted, improving overall site power efficiency while reducing environment impact.
For more information:
Canaan Inc. 
Email: [email protected]
canaan.io/
