Step 1. Define your goal and algorithm
- What you mine and with which hardware:
- SHA‑256 (Bitcoin) → ASIC miners: top energy efficiency, high heat/noise density.
- Ethash/other GPU algorithms → GPU farms: flexibility (switching coins) but more complex to build/maintain.
- Hybrid fleets → ASIC and GPU in parallel, different profiles for power/cooling.
- Pools vs. solo:
- 99% of cases use pools (stable Internet and low latency to pool servers are key).
- Solo mining requires full nodes, additional storage, and a ‘thicker’ network.
- PoW vs. PoS:
- For PoW, the key costs are electricity and cooling. PoS reduces compute but increases reliability requirements for validators/nodes.
Step 2. Power: load calculation, distribution, redundancy
2.1. Base power formula:
Sum the consumption of all devices (miners, ventilation, pumps, IT network, lighting) and add a 15–25% margin for inrush currents, variability, and growth.
- Example:
- 30 ASIC × 3.0 kW = 90 kW.
- Cooling + operational overhead (≈20%) → 108 kW design power.
2.2. Power quality and topology:
- Three‑phase (400/415 V) is standard for medium/high density.
- Power Factor (PF): account for equipment cosφ (often 0.9–0.98) when sizing breakers/cabling.
- Distribution: mains panels → PDUs (with metering and protection) → outlets/terminal blocks near racks/shelves.
- Grounding and surge protection are mandatory.
2.3. Redundancy and fault tolerance:
- For ‘pure’ mining without strict 24/7 SLA, proper auto‑restart logic and two independent feeds are often enough.
- For high SLA: N or N+1 at critical points (feeds, fans/pumps, switches), Genset + ATS, UPS for network/control planes and graceful miner shutdowns.
2.4. Quick current calculation (three‑phase):
I = P / (√3 × U × PF)
For 108 kW, U=400 V, PF=0.95 → I ≈ 164 A per feed.
Step 3. Cooling & environment: every watt becomes heat
3.1. 1:1 principle:
Almost all consumed electrical power turns into heat. If the farm draws 100 kW, the cooling must remove 100 kW of heat (plus margin).
3.2. Approaches:
- Air cooling (hot/cold aisle) — baseline standard.
- Evaporative/adiabatic — energy‑saving in dry climates (requires water/filtration).
- Liquid (immersion/direct‑to‑chip) — higher density and low noise, but higher CAPEX/complexity.
3.3. Airflow sizing (approx.):
Power (kW) ≈ Ṽ × 1.206 × ΔT, where Ṽ is airflow (m³/s), ΔT is temperature rise (°C).
Thus Ṽ ≈ kW / (1.206 × ΔT).
Example: 100 kW, ΔT = 10°C → Ṽ ≈ 8.29 m³/s ≈ 29,844 m³/h (≈ 17,600 CFM).
3.4. Environmental controls:
- Temperature & humidity: stay within vendor ranges; avoid condensation.
- Filtration & dust: intake screens/filters, regular cleaning.
- Noise: acoustic panels/containerized designs near residential areas.
Step 4. Networking & monitoring: low latency and ‘second doors’
4.1. Internet & latency:
- Mining to pools needs stability and low latency; bandwidth is modest.
- Prefer 2 independent ISPs with failover/balancing.
4.2. LAN:
- Switches with basic L2/L3, VLAN segmentation (miners, OOB, cameras).
- Out‑of‑Band (OOB): a separate management path (LTE/dedicated link) so you can access the site even if the primary path is down.
4.3. Monitoring & automation:
- Telemetry on power (feeds, PDUs), temperature/humidity (racks/rooms), miner status.
- Alerts (email/Telegram/Webhooks), actions (restarts, traffic reroutes, fan stages).
- Access/change logs and configuration backups.
Step 5. Security: physical, cyber, and keys
Physical security:
- Access control (cards/biometrics), zones, mantraps, 24/7 video, smoke/flood/vibration sensors.
Cybersecurity:
- Network segmentation, ACLs, firmware updates, secure SSH/VPN, change audits.
Wallets & keys:
- HSM/hardware wallets, multisig, separation of duties, safes.
Insurance & risk:
- Property (equipment/downtime) and liability coverage. Regular risk assessments and drills.
Step 6. Scaling: modularity and standards
- Design in 50–100 kW ‘blocks’: single kit — feed, distribution, 1–2 rows, standard PDUs, ventilation.
- Standardize racks/shelves, connectors, cable management, labeling — speeds up builds and reduces errors.
- Upgrade paths: headroom on feeds/links, free rack U, reserved floor space for extra fans/immersion sections.
- Serviceability: aisles, removable panels, safe access to hot zones.
Mini‑cases: from 10 kW to 1 MW
| Scenario | Equipment | Power & distribution | Cooling | Network/management | Redundancy/risks | Notes |
| 10 kW (office/garage) | 8–10 ASIC or 4–6 GPU rigs | 3‑phase 400 V, main breaker 32–40 A; simple panel + 1–2 PDUs | Air, 3–4k m³/h exhaust; filters | 1 ISP + LTE backup; basic monitoring | Smoke/overheat sensors; SPD | Noise management; separate energy meter |
| 100 kW (warehouse) | 70–90 ASIC or 25–35 GPU rigs | 3‑phase 400 V, 160–250 A feed; row distribution; PDU metering | Hot/cold aisles; 25–35k m³/h; possible adiabatic | 2 ISPs, OOB, VLAN; alerts/restarts | Genset per design, N on ventilation, fire safety | Telemetry boards, maintenance runbooks |
| 1 MW (shop/floor/containers) | 600–800 ASIC or immersion | Dedicated substation/transformer; busways; commercial metering | Immersion or large adiabatic plant; machine room | Redundant core, OOB ring, SIEM | N+1 at critical points, Genset/ATS, evacuation plan | ESG reporting, power contracts |
Economics in 5 indicators
1) kWh price — the primary OPEX driver. Lower energy cost, increase utilization.
2) PUE (Power Usage Effectiveness) = Total facility power / IT power.
- Baseline: 1.15–1.35 for good air systems. Immersion/dry climates: 1.05–1.15.
3) CAPEX per IT kW (very rough):
- Air, medium density: €150–€350/kW (infrastructure only, miners excluded).
- Immersion/high density: €300–€600/kW.
4) Monthly energy OPEX:
- Formula: Cost = Power (kW) × hours × €/kWh.
- Example: 100 kW, 720 h/mo, €0.08/kWh → €5,760/mo (months have 720–744 h; use the actual calendar).
5) Payback sensitivity:
- Build a table ‘coin price / network difficulty / €/kWh / PUE’ → daily profit. Set ‘breakeven bands’ and alert thresholds.
Risks & compliance: slow is smooth, smooth is fast
- Construction/electrical codes: proper feeds, cabling, grounding, SPD, fire safety.
- Environment: noise (acoustics/operating hours), dust/filters, e‑waste disposal, water use for adiabatic.
- Reporting & taxes: business status, metered energy, taxation of rewards.
- Utility/landlord contracts: power limits, tariffs, penalties for overdraw, commissioning deadlines.
- Insurance & liability: equipment/interruption coverage, physical security requirements.
- Occupational safety: temperature/noise, access to hot zones, PPE, staff training.
FAQ
How much power does a modern ASIC draw?
- Typically 2–3.5 kW per unit (check the power spec for your exact model and PSU revision).
How much air is needed for 100 kW?
- Roughly 30,000 m³/h at ΔT ≈ 10°C (≈ 17,600 CFM).
Do I need a UPS?
- Not always for raw mining; proper auto‑restart and protection may suffice. Still, put network/controllers/loggers on UPS.
Air or immersion?
- At high density/noise or limited ‘cold’ air, immersion can pay back via lower PUE/noise and longer equipment life—but needs higher CAPEX and operational discipline.
How to plan growth?
- Modular 50–100 kW blocks with unified plumbing and reserved space for new lines.
Pre‑launch checklist
- Goals & algorithm: coin/ASIC or GPU, payback horizon.
- Power: kW calculation + headroom, PF, feeds, cabling, PDUs, grounding, SPD.
- Cooling: type (air/immersion), heat balance, ΔT, filters, acoustics.
- Network: 2 ISPs, OOB, segmentation, monitoring, alerts.
- Security: access, cameras, fire safety, cyber hygiene, wallets/keys, insurance.
- Scaling: modularity, standardization, upgrade paths.
- Economics: €/kWh, PUE, CAPEX/kW, monthly OPEX, breakeven bands.
- Compliance: permits, power contracts, environment/noise, taxes.
What’s next?
Preparing a 10–1000 kW site or want a quick viability check? Unihost helps deploy and scale mining infrastructure: available power, air/immersion cooling, redundancy, OOB networking, and 24/7 monitoring. We match location and configuration to your economics and assist with migration and commissioning.
Send us your parameters (kW, miner types, target PUE/€/kWh) — we’ll reply with configuration, timelines, and budget.