Iris Energy (IREN) reports record average operating hashrate of 1,165 PH/s

2022-06-10 21:48:38 By : Ms. Rebecca Xue

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Iris Energy Limited (NASDAQ: IREN ) (“Iris Energy” or “the Company”), a leading sustainable Bitcoin miner which is building an institutional-grade infrastructure platform with 15 EH/s of secured miners (10 EH/s expected to be operational by early 2023), today published a monthly investor update for June 2022, containing its results from operations as well as construction and development updates.

Iris Energy reported its quarterly earnings for the period ended March 31, 2022 and provided a general business update. The earnings webcast and the Company’s latest investor presentation are available on the Company’s website here: https://investors.irisenergy.co/events-and-presentations .

Multiple debt processes remain underway, with discussions involving various aspects of the capital structure, for example, equipment financing similar to the recent $71m NYDIG facility (1.98 EH/s of miners secured), real asset and infrastructure financing, as well as corporate credit facilities. The Company remains focused on prudently assessing various options and ensuring that any decisions consider an appropriate long-term capital structure for the Company.

Business summary (as at April 30 (unaudited)):

The Company also welcomed Belinda Nucifora as Chief Financial Officer in May. Ms Nucifora is a Chartered Accountant and experienced CFO, having worked in both listed and private companies including CFO / senior finance roles with Merrill Lynch, Alinta Energy, Challenger, Travelex, Slater & Gordon, and Laser Clinics Australia. Ms Nucifora led the financial due diligence for the ~$3.1bn5 trade sale of Alinta Energy and Slater & Gordon’s A$640m external debt reduction and separation of its UK business. Ms Nucifora has deep experience in financial and strategic business leadership, including financial leadership of successful growth companies both organically and through M&A activity.

Canal Flats update (0.8 EH/s, 30MW) – BC, Canada

Canal Flats (100% renewable operations since inception6) achieved average monthly operating hashrate in May of 873 PH/s, in line with April (870 PH/s). The project continues to exceed previously announced site capacity of 0.7 EH/s.

During the month, a further ten Iris Energy operations staff from our two operating sites in Canal Flats and Mackenzie completed a two-week ASIC miner maintenance and repair course provided by Bitmain (the supplier of Iris Energy's S19j Pro and S19j miners). Iris Energy is able to perform hardware repairs in-house to help minimize miner downtime.

Mackenzie update (2.4 EH/s, 50MW initial / 80MW total) – BC, Canada

The initial 0.3 EH/s (9MW) at Mackenzie, the Company’s second operating site in BC which was successfully commissioned ahead of schedule on April 12, achieved average monthly operating hashrate in May of 292 PH/s, a 74% increase on April (168 PH/s) reflecting the first full month of operations.

Construction of the remainder of the first 1.5 EH/s (50MW) remains on track for Q3 2022. The internal fit out of the first data center building is complete and continues to advance for the second and third data center buildings. All foundation and sub-surface works for the substation are complete, major electrical equipment installations continue and initial testing activities have commenced.

Upon completion, 80MW of proprietary data centers are expected to power an additional ~24,000 Bitmain S19j Pro and S19j miners (already secured), generating 2.4 EH/s of incremental hashrate and adding approximately 15-20 direct full-time local jobs in Mackenzie.

See Mackenzie construction progress video at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ac1F4h0n7xg&t=7s .

Prince George update (2.4 EH/s, 50MW initial / 85MW total) – BC, Canada

The structural steel for the first data center building (20MW) has been erected and the exterior roofing and cladding materials are currently being installed. Erection of the structural steel has commenced on the second data center building (10MW), and the materials required to complete the building are on-site. Foundation works are well progressed for the third data center building (20MW) and completed for the substation.

The first 1.4 EH/s (50MW), comprising three data centers, remains on track to be energized by the end of Q3 2022, with the additional 1.0 EH/s (35MW) anticipated to come online in 2023.

Upon completion, 85MW of proprietary data centers are expected to power an additional ~25,000 Bitmain S19j Pro and S19j miners (already secured), generating 2.4 EH/s of incremental hashrate and adding approximately 20 direct full-time local jobs in Prince George.

Childress update (9.6 EH/s, 335MW) – Texas, USA

Procurement and early construction activities continued to progress (all required construction permits are in place) in conjunction with ongoing civil works. Purchase orders have been placed on key long-lead items, including the 345kV step-down transformer, 138kV step-down transformers and associated circuit breakers, and delivery timelines currently remain on track. Tendering activities are complete with bulk earthworks and buildings contracts in the process of being awarded.

The first 3.0 EH/s (100MW) of data center buildings are expected to be completed by the end of 20227, with an additional 6.6 EH/s (235MW), comprising S19j Pro miners (already secured), expected to progressively come online through to Q3 2023. Based upon the executed 600MW connection agreement with AEP Texas, the site has the capability to power an additional ~8 EH/s8 (265MW) of miners beyond the 15 EH/s already secured.

Upon completion and at full capacity, 600MW of proprietary data centers are expected to generate ~18 EH/s8 of incremental hashrate and add approximately 50-60 direct full-time local jobs in Childress.

Iris Energy is pleased to announce the donation of C$5,000 to the Raven’s Nest Resort, located on Akisqnuk First Nation land just north of Fairmont Hot Springs, BC. The donation will provide a cash prize for the PDGA (Professional Disc Golf Association) tournament being held at the Raven’s Nest Disc Golf Course in August.

C$5,000 was also donated to the Lheidli T’enneh Elder Society who are hosting their first ever Moccasin Walk in June this year. The purpose of the walk is to “promote health, fitness and community spirit”, with the funds donated to go towards door prizes and cash sponsorship of the event. The Lheidli T’enneh Elder Society was established to teach the Lheidli T’enneh First Nation, and community of Prince George, the richness of the Lheidli T’enneh culture. For more information, please visit their website at https://www.lheidli.ca/communication/elders-society/ .

Iris Energy also participated in and sponsored the Mackenzie, BC ‘Spring Exposition’ trade fair in May, with members of the Iris Energy team organizing a booth to discuss with the local community the Company’s ongoing development activities as well as the recently announced Community Grants Program.

Development works continued across additional sites in Canada, the USA and Asia-Pacific, which are expected to support up to an additional >1GW of aggregate power capacity capable of powering growth well beyond the Company’s 15 EH/s of secured miners (~530MW) and 795MW of announced power capacity.

Further details will be provided in due course including as and when development sites transition to the construction phase.

Daily average operating hashrate chart is available at https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/8d79d063-7925-439e-aa8a-6f72dc55f679

The Company’s average operating hashrate increased to 1,165 PH/s in May, primarily attributable to the first full month of operations of the initial 9MW at Mackenzie.

* Reflects actual recorded operating power usage and hashrate (not nameplate). Note: nameplate capacity is higher than actual operating power usage due to features of the Company’s proprietary data center design which utilizes variable speed fans to reduce power consumption during cooler months, as well as the Company maintaining a buffer within its infrastructure capacity that can be also directed to other site uses (e.g., in-house fabrication shop at Canal Flats is currently operating as Iris Energy has the advantage of saving time and costs by internally constructing certain components for its expansion sites).

* Reflects Bitcoin mined post deduction of mining pool fees (currently 0.5% x total Bitcoin mined).** The increase in electricity costs per Bitcoin in May was primarily attributable to: (i) ~7% increase in the difficulty-implied global hashrate (~218 EH/s vs. ~204 EH/s) which resulted in a lower number of Bitcoin mined per unit of operating hashrate compared to April; and (ii) a higher interim unit cost of power at Mackenzie – 9MW at Mackenzie is currently tapping a temporary 25kV distribution feed which is higher cost vs. the rate paid at Canal Flats (the unit cost of power is expected to revert to the same rate as Canal Flats upon commissioning of the first 50MW in Q3 2022).

Iris Energy is a sustainable Bitcoin mining company that supports local communities, as well as the decarbonization of energy markets and the global Bitcoin network.

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