閒置的動力悖論和巴基斯坦的比特幣能源計劃

截至2025年3月，巴基斯坦擁有46600兆瓦的安裝功率，比上一年略有增加。

Pakistan is grappling with the 'idle power paradox,' especially pertinent as the South Asian nation sets its sights on an ambitious Bitcoin energy plan.

巴基斯坦正在努力應對“閒置權力悖論”，尤其是相關，因為南亞國家將目光投向了雄心勃勃的比特幣能源計劃。

According to Statista, Pakistan's installed power capacity stood at 46,600 MW as of March 2025, a modest increase from the previous year. However, a significant portion of this capacity remains idle, particularly during the off-peak winter months when electricity demand can decrease to as low as 12,000 MW.

根據Statista的說法，截至2025年3月，巴基斯坦的安裝功率為46,600兆瓦，比上一年有所增加。但是，這種能力的很大一部分仍然閒置，尤其是在非高峰冬季，當時電力需求可能會降至12,000兆瓦時。

A substantial factor contributing to this issue is the capacity payments, which are fixed fees paid to power plants even if they are not producing electricity. These payments have reached a staggering sum of 2.1 trillion Pakistan rupees ($7.45 billion) per year.

導致此問題的一個重要因素是容量支付，即使他們沒有發電，也是向發電廠支付的固定費用。這些付款每年達到了驚人的2.1萬億巴基斯坦盧比（74.5億美元）。

This cost is ultimately passed on to consumers, even when the plants are in a dormant state.

即使植物處於休眠狀態，這一成本也最終傳給了消費者。

Thermal power, which includes coal and gas, makes up 56% of the installed capacity but contributes only 46% to the actual generation. This is due to the presence of older, less efficient plants that are kept on standby, continuously collecting capacity payments.

包括煤炭和氣體在內的熱力佔安裝能力的56％，但僅貢獻了46％的實際一代。這是由於存在較舊的，效率較低的植物，這些植物一直保持在待機狀態，不斷收集能力支付。

In contrast, hydropower, nuclear power, and renewables cover the remaining shortfall in electricity generation. Notably, Pakistan has witnessed a remarkable surge in its renewable energy adoption, specifically solar power, leading to new challenges.

相反，水電，核電和可再生能源涵蓋了發電的剩餘缺口。值得注意的是，巴基斯坦在其可再生能源採用尤其是太陽能方面見證了巨大的激增，導致了新的挑戰。

The country's net-metered solar capacity experienced a substantial increase from 1.3 GW in 2024 to nearly 4.9 GW within a year. This rapid expansion was driven by the import of over 17 GW of Chinese solar panels in 2024 alone.

該國的淨計量太陽能從2024年的1.3 gw增加到一年內的近4.9吉瓦。僅在2024年，僅在2024年就進口了超過17吉瓦的中國太陽能電池板。

The solar boom has contributed to instability in the power grid due to the fluctuating nature of solar energy supply. It has also resulted in rising electricity tariffs for users who do not have net-metering systems and unequal access to clean energy for poorer households.

由於太陽能供應的波動性質，太陽能動臂促進了電網的不穩定性。對於沒有淨計數係統和不平等的貧困家庭清潔能源的用戶，這也導致了電費上升。

Consumers in Pakistan are currently subject to high electricity rates, which are estimated at around 16¢/kWh for businesses, further propelling the solar energy adoption and perpetuating the cycle of costly imbalance in the energy mix.

巴基斯坦的消費者目前處於較高的電力率，企業的電力率估計約為16¢/kWh，進一步推動了太陽能採用，並使能源組合中昂貴的不平衡循環永存。

Bitcoin energy plan

比特幣能源計劃

With Pakistan grappling with an energy crisis and ballooning energy bills, the nation is now exploring an unconventional move: diverting idle power to Bitcoin mining and AI data centers.

隨著巴基斯坦與能源危機和激烈的能源賬單進行鬥爭，該國現在正在探索一個非常規的舉動：將閒置的權力轉移到比特幣採礦和AI數據中心。

This strategy, which is being touted by some officials and industry figures, aims to monetize the off-peak electricity that would otherwise go to waste and generate revenue through digital assets.

這種策略受到一些官員和行業數字的吹捧，旨在通過浪費浪費並通過數字資產產生收入的非高峰電力獲利。

As the World Bank notes, Pakistan’s thermal power plants are often used at low rates, especially during the winter months when demand drops. For instance, in 2022, the plants were used at an average of 45% of their capacity, and in December 2022, the capacity factor fell to 33% during the off-peak hours.

正如世界銀行指出的那樣，巴基斯坦的熱電廠通常以較低的速度使用，尤其是在需求下降的冬季。例如，在2022年，工廠平均使用了其容量的45％，在2022年12月，在非高峰時段的容量因子下降至33％。

This low utilization, despite the high tariffs charged to consumers for electricity, presents a unique opportunity to redirect up to 2,000 MW of idle power to alternative uses.

儘管對消費者的電力收取了很高的關稅，但這種低利用率為電力帶來了一個獨特的機會，可以將多達2,000兆瓦的閒置功率重定向到替代用途。

During periods of low electricity demand, such as the winter months when demand can drop as low as 12,000 MW, this surplus capacity could be channeled into Bitcoin mining and AI data centers.

在低電力需求的時期，例如冬季需求可能會下降到12,000兆瓦時，該盈餘容量可以轉移到比特幣採礦和AI數據中心中。

This strategy is envisioned to ease the strain on the power grid by absorbing the excess supply and generate revenue for the government through digital asset mining and related services.

設想該策略可以通過吸收多餘供應並通過數字資產挖掘和相關服務為政府帶來收入來減輕電網的壓力。

However, critics have raised concerns about this plan, highlighting the increased reliance on fossil fuels for thermal power generation, which contributes to environmental pollution.

然而，批評家提出了對這項計劃的擔憂，強調了對化石燃料產生熱力發電的依賴，這有助於環境污染。

Moreover, there are worries that the benefits of this initiative might not reach ordinary Pakistanis, who are already burdened by the rising cost of living in a country ranked among the most unequal in the world.

此外，人們擔心這項倡議的好處可能不會到達普通的巴基斯坦人，他們已經受到了世界上最不平等的國家生活成本上升的負擔。