New Legislation Seeks to Transform Energy Surplus Into Economic Value
French lawmakers have ignited debate by submitting a groundbreaking bill aiming to harness Bitcoin mining as a tool to optimize the nation’s electricity grid and revitalize industrial regions. Formally introduced to the National Assembly on July 11, 2025, this legislative proposal targets recurring issues of energy overproduction, particularly from France’s vast nuclear and renewable resources. Rather than wasting surplus energy, the bill sets forth a five-year experimental program that would direct otherwise lost power into regulated Bitcoin mining operations (source [1]; source [2]).
How Bitcoin Mining Can Balance France’s Electricity Grid
Over 70% of France’s electricity comes from nuclear power, resulting in frequent periods of overproduction. Current regulations often force these plants to reduce output during peak renewable production or low demand, creating unnecessary financial and environmental inefficiencies. The new bill envisions co-locating Bitcoin mining centers near energy production sites—such as decommissioned factories and industrial zones—allowing these data centers to operate flexibly and absorb surplus electricity only when it is truly available. This approach not only improves grid stability but also reduces the costly need to modulate nuclear output (source [1]).
Economic and Environmental Impacts: Turning Waste Into Wealth
Lawmakers estimate that redirecting one gigawatt of surplus electricity to dedicated mining could generate up to $150 million annually for the country, supporting the domestic Bitcoin ecosystem and creating local jobs while revitalizing underutilized infrastructure (source [2]). Another innovative aspect involves repurposing the significant heat generated by mining rigs. The bill highlights models from Scandinavia and North America where waste heat is captured to warm homes, agricultural greenhouses, or support other industrial processes, thus reducing the environmental footprint of mining (source [3]).
Grid Decarbonization and Regional Innovation
The proposal emphasizes that mining facilities would be powered predominantly by clean, carbon-free energy, aligning with France’s decarbonization goals. Flexible load sites offer a real-time solution for grid balancing and can activate or shut down rapidly in response to energy availability, ensuring they do not compete with household or industrial demand during consumption peaks (source [4]). Beyond pure economics, the bill sees Bitcoin mining as a vector for industrial and digital innovation, capable of transforming neglected regions into high-tech hubs.
Conclusion: France at the Forefront of Crypto-Energy Integration
If adopted, France’s initiative could define a new model for integrating digital assets into national energy infrastructure—one where Bitcoin mining acts not as a problem but as a sophisticated lever to extract value from overproduction. This strategy could establish France as a leader in sustainable Bitcoin mining, all while optimizing grid stability and advancing environmental objectives (source [5]).
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