Canaan Launches 2.5MW Bitcoin Mining Pilot in Canada to Tap Stranded Gas
Canaa has launched a 2-megawatt pilot project in Calgary, Alberta, to mine bitcoin using power generated from stranded natural gas.
The mining hardware manufacturer announced on Monday it is partnering with Calgary-based Aurora AZ Energy Ltd. on the deployment, which will convert otherwise flared or stranded natural gas into electricity for powering bitcoin mining operations directly at wellheads.
The 2.5-megawatt off-grid site will house 700 units of Canaan (NASDAQ: CAN)’s latest Avalon A15 Pro miners, valued at over $2 million, along with containerized data modules.
The initiative reflects a broader trend among bitcoin miners and AI infrastructure players seeking to localize and decentralize power sources amid rising grid constraints. Canaan said it is guaranteed with 90% uptime with “usable electricity at power costs well below industry norms.”
“By integrating localized natural gas generation with our modular computing systems, we are transforming previously wasted resources into productive energy,” said Canaan CEO Nangeng Zhang in the announcement.
Canaan’s project in Alberta follows a string of moves to scale its proprietary mining operations. Its proprietary hashrate has expanded to 9.3 EH/s as of the end of September. Last month, Canaan announced a record order of more than 50,000 A15 Pro units from an undisclosed U.S.-based mining firm, representing over 10 exahash per second (EH/s) in capacity.
Canaan and Aurora said they aim to replicate the model in other locations with flared or stranded gas and limited access to centralized grid power—particularly relevant as AI and HPC workloads accelerate demand for localized energy solutions.
