The Horse 2020/21

Environment & Technology

Task 6 - Real life energy calculation "Bitcoin mining"

Global Bitcoin Electricity Consumption

The Cambridge University estimated (since the exact calculation is difficult) the global electricity consumption of Bitcoin mining around 121.36 Terawatt-hours (TWh).

What do you think? How long could the city of Zurich could be supplied with this amount of energy when we take the consumption data of Zurich for 2018 for example?

The city of Zurich could be supplied with energy for approximately _______ [years]. This is ridiculous!

[1]            [2]

 

Data - City of Zurich 

Energy consumption (Watt/Person | Stand: 2018): 

[3]

 

Sources:

[1] BBC News (https://www.bbc.com/news/technology-56012952)

[2] stadt-zuerich.ch (https://www.stadt-zuerich.ch/gud/de/index/umwelt_energie/energie-in-zahlen/2000-watt-indikatoren/primaerenergiebilanz.html)

[3] stadt-zuerich.ch (https://www.stadt-zuerich.ch/prd/de/index/statistik/themen/bevoelkerung/bevoelkerungsentwicklung/aktueller-bevoelkerungsbestand.html)

 

by Claudio & Kadir

Comments (1) -

  • Karishma & Kamanya

    3/17/2021 7:50:42 AM | Reply

    Tricky quiz, but it was very interesting to solve it.

    Our solution would be:

    3216 Watt x 428'737 = 1'378'818'192 Watt
    121.36 Terawatt = 121'360'000'000'000 Watt

    1'378'818'192 Watt    ---> 1 year
    121'360'000'000'000 ---> 88'017 years
                
    It's insane that it needs 88'017 years.

    Well done!

    Best regards
    Karishma and Kamanya

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