Tesla is set to begin mining Bitcoin using 100% renewable solar energy.
The electric car manufacturer has partnered with payments firm Block and blockchain company Blockstream to build a 3.8 megawatt (MW) facility that will commence operations later this year.
Bitcoin mining refers to the process by which new units of cryptocurrency are generated.
However, it has garnered criticism for the large amounts of electricity it requires.
According to estimates from the Cambridge Bitcoin Electricity Consumption Index, the process uses as much energy as a country the size of Egypt.
READ MORE: Elon Musk reverses plan to join twitter board
As a result, climate activists have urged the crypto industry to introduce more sustainable solutions, including transitioning to sustainable energy sources like solar, wind and hydro.
The cost of renewable energy compared to fossil-fuels is preventing the switch, as crypto mining needs the lowest energy price to maximise profits.
“This is a step to proving our thesis that bitcoin mining can fund zero-emission power infrastructure and build economic growth in the future,” Blockstream chief executive Adam Back said.
GlobalBlock UK digital asset broker Marcus Sotiriou told The Independent: “Bitcoin’s climate change issue will become more prominent as price scales, so we will have no choice but to come up with solution,”
