Swytch, a blockchain-based clean energy incentive, and the Germany-based Energy2market GmbH (e2m), a leader in aggregated energy trading throughout Europe, have announced a pilot programme which includes roughly 3.5Gw of solar, wind, hydro and biogas energy capacity in Germany and is enough to power over 500,000 homes. As part of the large-scale pilot, Swytch is testing its first versions of the data flow, blockchain, dashboard, estimators, token allocation models and other key parts of the platform.
Swytch is a blockchain-based platform that tracks and verifies the impact of sustainability efforts and actions on the worldwide level of C02 emissions.
Swytch leverages smart meter and blockchain technology to reward the companies and people who reduce carbon emissions the most. At the core of the Swytch solution is an open-source ‘Oracle’ that uses artificial intelligence and machine learning to determine how much carbon is being displaced and therefore how many Swytch tokens to award. As a result, producers of renewable energy create Swytch tokens by generating solar, wind and other forms of renewable energy. e2m perceives Swytch’s approach to tokenised incentives in the energy market as particularly attractive to the larger energy producers and traders it serves.
“We firmly believe that blockchain technology can be used to unlock long-term value for Europe’s renewable energy assets,” said Andreas Keil, CEO of Energy2market. “Today, renewable energy represents 32% of the total energy market in Germany, but we have a goal of reaching 70% by 2050. Government-based incentive programmes can only do so much and a more dynamic option is needed. Additionally, some countries, like Germany, will begin phasing out their incentive programmes in the next few years. We need to prepare for the future and identify new subsidy instruments and trading mechanisms.”
This partnership will allow e2m to gain insight into alternatives to existing incentive programmes and leverage blockchain, which has security and immutability, making it an ideal technology to help reshape an industry that relies on timely and accurate data. Additionally, e2m believes that Swytch, as a global incentive programme and data source, has the ability to empower governments, cities, corporations and individuals to take a more active role in accelerating the adoption of renewable supply and sustainability programmes. A partnership with Swytch will create a competitive advantage as buyers and sellers of energy gain access to higher quality data in addition to an incentive that will be effective across geographic barriers.
“Just as blockchain is applicable to supply chain management and verification of physical assets, it is also beneficial for recording and tracking environmental attributions,” said Evan Caron, Co-founder and Managing Director of Swytch. “When compared to existing programmes, this will drastically reduce fraud and administrative costs as well as open up incentive mechanisms to residential properties, which are the key to accelerated adoption of renewables. This positions Swytch as a central player in the global grassroots movement to reduce carbon emissions.”
