In a move that blends energy innovation with digital infrastructure, Canaan Inc. announced the launch of a pilot project in Calgary, Alberta, designed to turn stranded or flared natural gas into power for Bitcoin mining and high-performance computing.

The initiative, developed in partnership with Aurora AZ Energy, marks a step for Canaan as it explores how waste gas — often burned off at remote wells — can instead fuel computing power directly at the source.

The pilot will install over $2 million worth of Avalon A15 Pro miners and modular data centers at wellheads, delivering roughly 2.5 megawatts of computing capacity with a guaranteed 90% uptime.

Canaan’s stock started in the green and is currently up 22% on the news to $1.33 per share.

At its core, this “gas-to-compute” system is an experiment in efficiency: using off-grid energy that would otherwise pollute to power one of the world’s most energy-hungry industries. Canaan estimates the project will prevent up to 14,000 metric tons of CO₂-equivalent emissions annually by capturing and converting flared gas into electricity.

“This initiative represents a major step in demonstrating how computing infrastructure can evolve alongside energy innovation,” said Canaan CEO Nangeng Zhang. “By integrating localized natural gas generation with our modular systems, we’re transforming previously wasted resources into productive energy.”

From flared gas to Bitcoin mining and AI innovation

Flared gas — natural gas released and burned as a byproduct of oil extraction — remains a significant environmental challenge, especially in energy-rich regions like Alberta.

According to the Alberta Energy Regulator, more than 900 million cubic meters of gas were flared in 2024 alone. The Canaan-Aurora model aims to turn that problem into an opportunity, creating what Aurora CEO Jing Shan Zhou calls a “scalable framework” for converting flared or stranded gas into computing power, according to the company’s press release.

Beyond Bitcoin mining, Canaan envisions a broader application for this model in powering AI and high-performance computing workloads — sectors facing mounting pressure to find cheaper, cleaner energy sources. 

As hyperscale data centers drive global power demand higher, localized energy generation like this could offer an alternative path to scale sustainably.

During downtime or grid curtailments, Canaan will also benefit from selling excess power back to the grid through demand-response programs, the company said.