Apple is known for imposing strict software limitations on its hardware, but a systems engineer and hardware hacker named Ivan Kuleshov successfully modded an M1 Mac mini to run on Power over Ethernet (PoE). This required removing the Ethernet port and making modifications to enable power delivery. Ivan plans to write an article and create a video detailing the process. The M1 Mac mini’s power efficiency made it a perfect candidate for testing PoE, as it only consumes 6W on idle and up to 40W under load. However, there may be limitations to PoE on the M1 Mac mini, which Ivan has not yet addressed. Further research and testing are needed to fully understand the potential of PoE on Macs with Ethernet ports.
https://www.inferse.com/660551/hardware-hacker-mods-an-m1-mac-mini-to-receive-power-over-ethernet-instead-of-the-ac-input/