A New South Wales brewery has found an innovative way to turn excess solar energy into something every brewer needs – hot water.

Hawkesbury Brewing Co has installed a system that uses Bitcoin mining computers to heat water for brewing and cleaning.

Now, before you think they’ve become a cryptocurrency company, the Bitcoin isn’t really the story.

The computers generate a huge amount of heat while they’re operating. Instead of letting that heat go to waste, the brewery captures it and uses it to heat water to almost 90 degrees Celsius.

The mining computers only run when there’s excess solar power available, meaning the system is powered entirely by renewable energy. As an added bonus, the Bitcoin they generate almost covers the brewery’s electricity bill each month.

It’s a clever example of thinking differently—turning what would normally be wasted energy into a valuable brewing resource.