俄羅斯押注比特幣，以平衡其電氣網絡並減少賬單。法國什麼時候醒來？和德國？

我們最近報導說，俄羅斯已經通過其旗艦Bitriver為世界第二大計算能力提供了動力。

After Texas, Russia is now using the bitcoin industry to balance its electrical network and reduce the bill. When will France and Germany wake up to this opportunity?

在德克薩斯州之後，俄羅斯現在正在利用比特幣行業來平衡其電氣網絡並減少賬單。法國和德國什麼時候醒來？

Russia turns to bitcoin

俄羅斯轉向比特幣

We recently reported that Russia is already hosting the second-largest computing power in the world thanks to its flagship Bitriver. Things now seem to be accelerating further with the management of the Russian electrical network Rosseti, which wants to use its surplus electricity production for the bitcoin industry.

我們最近報導說，俄羅斯已經憑藉其旗艦Bitriver擁有了世界第二大計算能力。現在，隨著俄羅斯電氣網絡Rosseti的管理，它似乎正在進一步加速，後者希望將其剩餘的電力生產用於比特幣行業。

The Russian public news agency TASS reports that Rosseti wishes to coordinate the installation of bitcoin miners and develop a tool to reduce their electricity consumption if necessary.

俄羅斯公共通訊社Tass報告說，Rosseti希望協調比特幣礦工的安裝，並在必要時開發一種減少電力消耗的工具。

Russia follows in the footsteps of Texas, where miners have built a symbiotic relationship with ERCOT, the local network operator. Russians already control 17% of the Bitcoin network’s computing power. It’s about 40% for the United States. Europeans share the crumbs.

俄羅斯跟隨得克薩斯州的腳步，礦工與當地網絡運營商Ercot建立了共生關係。俄羅斯人已經控制了比特幣網絡計算能力的17％。美國大約40％。歐洲人共享麵包屑。

For Rosseti, “the bitcoin industry will allow the consumption of surplus electricity while increasing the base load electricity consumption of the network. This will result in additional revenue for the company and additional tax revenue for the government.”

對於Rosseti而言，“比特幣行業將允許消耗剩餘電力，同時增加網絡的基本負載電量。這將為公司帶來額外的收入，並為政府帶來額外的稅收收入。”

The government of François Bayrou, EDF, and RTE (Electricity Transport Network of France) would do well to ask themselves some questions. Especially at a time when 70 billion euros are needed to finance the next six nuclear reactors.

FrançoisBayrou，EDF和RTE（法國電力運輸網絡）的政府會很好地問自己一些問題。尤其是在需要700億歐元的時間來為接下來的六個核反應堆提供資金。

Unfortunately, the debate is still tainted by ideological biases that prevent recognizing that bitcoin is an asset for the energy transition. It is enough to look at the costs of the intermittency of renewable energies to understand this.

不幸的是，辯論仍然被意識形態偏見所污染，這些偏見阻止了比特幣是能源轉型的資產。要看可再生能源的間歇性的成本就足以理解這一點。

Bitcoin and the intermittency problem

比特幣和間歇性問題

The intermittency of electricity production refers to the variability and unpredictability of certain sources of renewable energy. Solar panels do not produce electricity at night, and wind turbines depend on erratic winds.

電力生產的間歇性是指某些可再生能源來源的可變性和不可預測性。太陽能電池板在晚上不會發電，風力渦輪機取決於風不穩定。

This intermittency makes them uncompetitive against carbon and nuclear energies. As a result, subsidies are necessary. They amount to 20 billion euros per year in Germany, with projections estimating 23 billion by 2029.

這種間歇性使它們對碳和核能量的競爭力無競爭。結果，需要補貼。它們在德國每年為200億歐元，預計到2029年估計有230億歐元。

This extra cost is largely due to the maintenance of thermal power plants ‘just in case.’ The situation is so absurd that Germany has closed its nuclear power plants that could have operated for several more decades.

這種額外的成本在很大程度上是由於“以防萬一”維護熱電廠。這種情況是如此荒謬，以至於德國關閉了其核電站，該電廠可能已經運作了幾十年。

Not to mention the installation costs of new high-voltage lines or the trade deficit with China. The European Commission estimated that Chinese companies produce solar panels for 16 to 19 cents per watt of production capacity. It’s 24 to 30 cents for their European counterparts, who are closing one after another.

更不用說新的高壓線路或與中國的貿易赤字的安裝成本了。歐洲委員會估計，中國公司每瓦生產能力的生產16至19美分生產太陽能電池板。對於他們的歐洲同行來說，這是24到30美分，他們接一個地關閉了一個。

Let’s also remember that nuclear plants are not designed to accommodate the intermittency of renewable energies. The Nuclear Safety Authority estimates that these unexpected production variations partly explain the crisis that brought half of the French reactors to a halt in 2022. This “stop and go” is indeed essential with the rise of renewable energies.

還要記住，核電廠的設計並非旨在適應可再生能源的間歇性。核安全管理局估計，這些意外的生產變化部分解釋了2022年將一半法國反應堆停止的危機。隨著可再生能源的興起，這種“停止和行動”確實至關重要。

But is there no alternative to the closure or degradation of nuclear power plants? Why sacrifice an invaluable technological heritage if the bitcoin industry can offset the extra costs caused by the energy transition?

但是，核電廠的關閉或退化是否沒有其他選擇？如果比特幣產業可以抵消能源過渡造成的額外成本，為什麼要犧牲寶貴的技術遺產？

Especially since it is also a great tool for managing the electrical network to accommodate the problematic spikes in energy consumption.

特別是因為它也是管理電網以適應能源消耗中有問題的尖峰的絕佳工具。

Integrate bitcoin miners into the grid

將比特幣礦工整合到網格中

Texas uses what are called “gas peaker plants.” These peaking thermal power plants operate during peak demand times or sudden demand fluctuations. That is, only 3% of the time. Instead, dams are primarily used in France.

德克薩斯州使用所謂的“氣峰植物”。這些峰值的熱電廠在需求峰值時間或突然需求波動期間運作。也就是說，只有3％的時間。相反，大壩主要用於法國。

The other solution is to pay households to reduce their electricity consumption. Or to industry, particularly aluminum foundries or steel mills.

另一個解決方案是支付家庭以減少電力消耗。或行業，尤其​​是鋁製鑄造廠或鋼廠。

However, households often revert. The small discount on the bill does not offset the ordeal of a cold or heat wave. As for foundries, their reduction lasts no more than four hours, at the risk of an industrial catastrophe.

但是，家庭經常恢復。賬單上的小折扣不會抵消冷或熱浪的磨難。至於鑄造廠，其減少持續不超過四個小時，冒著工業災難的風險。

Texans no longer need these gas plants. They have the bitcoin industry, which can cease operations in the blink of an eye and for as long as necessary.

德州人不再需要這些燃氣廠。他們擁有比特幣行業，可以眨眼間就停止運營，並儘可能長時間。

Most Texas miners participate in the load-shedding programs of the electricity network operator ERCOT. The symbiosis is such that its CEO recently canceled the construction of 10 gas plants. They are no longer necessary due to the 3 GW that miners can provide back to the grid on demand.

大多數德克薩斯州礦工都參加了電力網絡運營商Ercot的負載分組計劃。共生的原因是其首席執行官最近取消了建造10個煤氣廠的建設。由於礦工可以按需提供3 GW，因此不再需要它們。

It is more interesting to have flexible electricity consumers than thermal power plants running at a low speed all year round. Brad Jones praised miners for their contribution to “keeping energy costs low for Texans”.

擁有靈活的電力消費者比全年低速運行的熱電廠更有趣。布拉德·瓊斯（Brad Jones）稱讚礦工對“保持得克薩斯人的能源成本較低”的貢獻。

And France? And Germany? The figures are overwhelming:

和法國？和德國？這些數字壓倒了：

It’s time for the debate to evolve. Europe must not be the laughingstock. Things are changing in Germany, where the former Minister of Economy is calling for a strategic reserve of bitcoins. Even the Czech Republic is getting involved!

現在是時候進行辯論了。歐洲一定不能成為笑聲。德國的情況發生了變化，前經濟部長呼籲進行戰略性的比特幣儲備。甚至捷克共和國也參與其中！

Will France be at the meeting?

法國會在會議上嗎？