Satellite images reveal heat emitted by one of America's largest cryptocurrency mining factories
SatVu releases first-of-its-kind thermal image revealing true operational activity inside major US data center
https://www.satellitevu.com/news/satvu-releases-first-of-its-kind-thermal-image-revealing-true-operational-activity-inside-major-us-data-centre
Satellites reveal heat leaking from largest US cryptocurrency mining center | Space
https://www.space.com/space-exploration/satellites/satellites-reveal-heat-leaking-from-largest-us-cryptocurrency-mining-center
Because cryptocurrency mining requires powerful computing resources, mining factories, which operate mining businesses, operate large amounts of hardware, similar to data centers for AI and other applications. Mining factories also generate a lot of heat, so they also require facilities to cool the hardware.
With the rise of AI, cloud computing, and cryptocurrency mining, data centers are becoming some of the most energy-intensive facilities in the world. Data centers are expanding so rapidly that they are sometimes outpacing the ability of regulators and grid operators to assess the impact of new data centers on the environment and the power system.
SatVu's satellite-based thermal imagery provides a separate layer of visibility into data center operations in real time. On December 16, 2025, SatVu released 3.5m-resolution thermal imagery capturing real-time activity at a 'bitcoin mining company's flagship data center in Rockdale , Texas .'
While SatVu did not provide details about the mining facility, astronomy website Space.com reported that Rockdale is home to a Bitcoin mining facility operated by Riot Platforms , the largest in the United States, with a power consumption of 700MW, equivalent to the electricity used by approximately 300,000 homes.
The image below shows a thermal image of a mining factory released by SatVu. It includes labels such as 'HIGH THERMAL LOAD ZONE' and 'ELECTRICAL SUBSTATION.'
SatVu describes the newly released images as 'featuring clear thermal signatures of rooftop chillers, transformers and electrical yards, clearly showing which parts of the facility are operational and which are dormant. These thermal patterns show not only whether the facility is technically built, but also how activity is distributed across the campus, whether new phases are ramping up as expected, and how energy use is changing over time.'
These thermal images allow regulators, grid operators, and analysts to understand what the operating zones are like across a facility, and which substations and cooling systems are under stress. Combining these physical indicators provides evidence-based insight into how a major data center is changing.
'Data center buildouts today are happening at an incredibly fast pace, and the world needs a better way to better understand what's actually happening on the ground,' said Thomas Kobti, vice president of business development at SatVu. 'Thermal data helps provide a real-time, objective view of operational activity, rather than a report or announcement weeks later.'
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in Science, Posted by log1h_ik