France Wants to Mine Bitcoin With Wasted Energy—Here’s What That Means

French lawmakers have introduced a proposal to launch a five-year trial program that would allow the use of surplus electricity for Bitcoin mining.

The initiative, formally submitted on July 11, is intended to optimize the country’s energy grid while exploring new avenues for economic development through the crypto asset ecosystem.

The proposal emphasizes that mining operations could play a constructive role in stabilizing the national grid, especially during periods of energy overproduction.

Turning Surplus Power into Economic Utility

At the core of the bill is a focus on utilizing controllable and carbon-free electricity from nuclear and renewable sources. Lawmakers argue that surplus energy often goes to waste due to inadequate storage infrastructure and existing regulations that require nuclear plants to reduce output when renewable generation peaks.

They contend that repurposing this unused energy for Bitcoin mining could help reduce financial losses for producers while minimizing stress on nuclear facilities caused by frequent modulation of power output.

The bill outlines plans to create data centers close to power generation sites, such as decommissioned factories or industrial zones, to efficiently harness surplus electricity for mining operations.

Lawmakers suggest this decentralized infrastructure would help keep mining demand localized and manageable, avoiding strain on the broader energy grid.

They further claim that such facilities would not compete with existing energy consumption demands, but rather act as a flexible energy sink that activates only when there is excess supply.

Citing data from the Association for the Development of Digital Assets (ADAN), the proposal estimates that allocating just one gigawatt of power to mining could generate between $100 million and $150 million annually.

This revenue would provide energy producers with a new monetization path and potentially position France as a competitive player in the broader crypto sector.

Moreover, the bill notes that the waste heat generated by mining hardware could be captured through heat exchangers and redirected for practical use, such as heating residential buildings, greenhouses, or supporting industrial processes.

Energy Efficiency Modeled on Nordic Examples

The proposal highlights that similar energy-reuse strategies are already being implemented in countries like Iceland, Norway, and Sweden, where mining operations use geothermal or hydroelectric power and redirect excess heat to local infrastructure.

French lawmakers argue that replicating such models could align with the nation’s environmental and economic goals. By localizing mining near energy hubs and repurposing waste heat, France could maximize energy efficiency while supporting technological advancement.

While the proposal has not yet been passed into law, it reflects a broader shift in how countries are beginning to view Bitcoin mining, not merely as a high-energy process, but as a potential tool for grid management and economic development.

If adopted, France’s pilot could provide a data-driven case study for how surplus energy might be integrated into blockchain infrastructure without disrupting conventional power needs. Further developments are expected as the proposal moves through the legislative process.

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