Bitcoin mining now over 52% powered by sustainable energy

A recent report from the Cambridge Centre for Alternative Finance (CCAF) shows that Bitcoin (CRYPTO:BTC) mining’s reliance on sustainable energy has risen to 52.4% as of early 2025.  

North America dominates the global bitcoin mining landscape, with the United States accounting for 75.4% and Canada 7.1% of reported mining activity, together controlling over 80%.  

The report highlights hydropower as the largest sustainable energy source for mining at 23.4%, followed by wind at 15.4%, nuclear at 9.8%, and solar at 3.2%.  

Despite these gains in clean energy use, fossil fuels still account for 47.6% of the electricity mix, primarily natural gas at 38.2%, coal at 8.9%, and oil at 0.5%.  

Bitcoin mining’s annual electricity consumption increased 17% year-over-year to an estimated 138 terawatt-hours, representing about 0.54% of global electricity use.  

Miners reported a median electricity cost of $45 per megawatt-hour, with electricity expenses constituting over 80% of their cash-based operating costs.  

The CCAF report notes the industry is at a “critical juncture,” urging diversification into high-growth sectors such as high-performance computing for AI workloads to adapt to tightening margins.  

Innovative energy solutions like utilizing flared natural gas, recovering waste heat, and demand-side response are identified as potential strategies to improve sustainability and profitability.  

“Diversification into high-growth sectors like HPC serving computationally intense AI workloads, leveraging existing infrastructure, is emerging as a key adaptive strategy,” the report states.  

The shift toward sustainable energy in bitcoin mining follows China’s crackdown on mining activities, partly motivated by environmental goals, which prompted miners to relocate to regions with cleaner energy supplies.  

At the time of reporting, the Bitcoin price was $94,698.29.