Staying Online When the Power Fluctuates: Buffered Dispatches for Off-Grid Mining Sites

The Challenge

Running a mining operation on a variable power source like wind, solar, or flared gas means your available generation is constantly in motion. Without a grid connection to fall back on, your miners are entirely dependent on whatever the source is producing at any given moment. When output drops suddenly and the mine doesn't adjust, the result is tripped breakers, emergency shutdowns, and hardware stress. Do it enough times and you're looking at real equipment damage and lost revenue.

Managing this manually isn't realistic. Generation can shift faster than any operator can respond, especially at remote or unstaffed sites. And when something does go wrong at 2am miles from the nearest tech, the cost of a site visit adds up fast.

The Solution: Buffered Dispatches

Buffered Dispatches automates the adjustment process. You define a safety buffer — a range below your available power threshold — and Foreman continuously adjusts your fleet's power draw to stay within it. As the generation rises, the system can bring more miners online. As it falls, it curtails load in a controlled, prioritized sequence before anything trips.

This all happens automatically, in real time, without anyone needing to be on-site or watching a dashboard.

How It Works

1. Foreman monitors your site's available power through a dedicated Available Power meter. Data can come from a directly connected meter, a Modbus device reading generation output.
2. You configure your desired buffer below the available power threshold.
3. When available power changes, Foreman automatically dispatches your fleet to the appropriate load level, curtailing the least profitable miners first and restoring them as generation recovers.
4. Available power is also surfaced as a card in the Command Center, so you always have at-a-glance visibility into your site's current state.

Getting Started

1. Navigate to Power from the left-hand menu, then select Command Center 

2. Click Add Event to open the modal, then click Add Dispatch 

   

3. On the form, you'll fill out the following:
   - Name of event (required)
   - Reason (optional)
   - Power Target > Buffered (required)
   - Select Available Power Source > Select from dropdown (required)
   - Buffer (required)
   - Unit of Measure, MW or kW (required)
   - Start Date and Time (required)
   - End Date and Time (optional)
4. Then click Save to create the event

Key Benefits & Things to Know

• Prevents tripped breakers and uncontrolled shutdowns during generation dips.
• Protects ASICs and PSUs from repeated power cycling.
• Keeps the most profitable miners online as long as generation supports them.
• Requires no manual intervention as conditions change.
• Works 24/7 for remote and unstaffed sites.

       → Recurrence scheduling is not available for Buffered Dispatches. If you need recurring scheduled curtailment events (e.g., for a demand program), see Automated Scheduling. Buffered Dispatches and Automated Scheduling can be used together on the same site.

For questions about configuring your meter or the Available Power API, contact your CSM or leave a comment below. For technical issues connecting your meter, reach out to Foreman support.