Dear,

Had a chat with Nick G. about SLR and the way it related to the "real-world". Please find my questions (and answers related) as follows ; I hope this might reassure people on the (right) way we're going !

1.    On the forum, [ANN][SLR] SolarCoin | PoW to PoS v. 2.0 | Solar Proof of Generation (§1 = 1MWh) , I believe that CryptoNick has a point about the virtual side of the SLR versus the true value of 1 MWh. Since the solar electricity produced has already been paid for (through netmetering, FIT, PPA...), what is the SLR pegged against ?

=> SLR is issued (circulation controlled) against the physical work performed to produce the MHw. In much the same way BTC is issued against POW computational work. Gold has no intrinsic value, but reflects the work of extracting and its percieved value.  The +33m in circulation from computational proof of work is "assigned" or declared by fiat to represent earlier solar production.  This fiat declaration was viewed as a means of helping get distribution out. Just FYI 33M MWh is a small fraction of earlier solar generated.

2.    Additionaly, in Fiat ccy, as 1usd can be pegged to 0.2usd of gold (roughly), you could, in theory, still go to the FED and  (it has still to be proved that the Bank would actually make this gold available to you...!)

=> Fiat is "pegged" only by declaration and the ability to redeem against the asset. The dollar hasn't been redeemable since 1974. The last major currency I know of that used to have a "peg" but no redemption feature to gold was the swiss franc which had a % tied to monetary base.   The dollar and most all major developed country currencies are non-redeemable assets which are mostly put into circulation by the purchasing of govt securities.  That being said, these notes (euros, USD etc). are not convertible / redeemable or valid claims against those central bank balance sheet assets.

3.    However, in the SLR case, how to you "pledge" the currency, what do you back it against ?

=> There is no "pledge" of the currency only the premise the circulation is restricted to proof of work as indicated by solar MWh production.

4.    Indeed, at no point in time (through the registration process) are the PVOwners required to "pledge" their solar MWh against 1 coin of SLR. (because then it would meen that, for example, I could drive my electric car to a PVOwner and ask him : "here, charge the electric battery of my electric car", and pay him 1SLR for it). It would also meen that, should the economic system fallout, the solar MWh could be called upon by the central bank (ie : the foundation in this case).

=>  Correct. It is a claim of work performed nothing more.  The currency derives its value from trade and/or the willingness of others to settle transactions in it. Fiat has a "demand" driver in the form of govt taxes that initially helped keep national currencies viable.  After that credit markets and other demand functions drove currency demand.  The more stable the issuance and percieved value, the more likely credit is extended in the currency, which creates future demand.  see www.economicprinciples.com

This should be brought up in the forum and or communicated to educate people how traditional money works, how traditional credit works and how solar coin works.  99% of people don't really know how traditional money works, is issued etc. which isn't terrible as it functions for them 99% of the time.

This of course is central to the way the virtual ccy will be accepted/or not and picked up by people...

"Mr Whale... Tear down this Wall!!" Over 10BTC on sale there :-)

I Agree with CryptoNick, there are a lot of things to do out there and a lot of ideas (if not businesses themselves!!) could actually be "plugges" into the solarcoin.

Keep in mind that we are creating a virtuous circle now : we, the community, are all building up the bricks and mortar in order to get to widespread use of the ccy.

There is a chain effect to the work we are doing in the sence that, the more we do now, the easier it becomes for later work (so in this sence, the hardests bricks to mine are actually the first ones...!)

In developing this chain effect, I believe owners of a solar photovoltaic system have a lot to do, if not owners of solar parks themselves!! These are the people to bring on board : http://solarcoin.org/over-2m-in-claimable-solarcoin-available-globally/




World's largest photovoltaic power stations (50 MW or larger)
2
   Photovoltaic power station   Country   Site co-ordinates               
3
      
Coinmarketcap.com SLR price info
         
4
   (MWp)   10% § Bounty   @ §120:$1   Yearly claim   25 yr value
5
   Desert Sunlight Solar Farm   USA   
33°49′33″N115°24′08″W
   550   §72,270   $602   $6,023   $150,563
6
   Topaz Solar Farm   USA   
35°23′N 120°4′W
   550   §72,270   $602   $6,023   $150,563
7
   Longyangxia Dam Solar Park   China   
36°07′20″N100°55′06″E
   320   §42,048   $350   $3,504   $87,600
8
   Solar Star I and II   USA      309   §40,603   $338   $3,384   $84,589
9
   California Valley Solar Ranch   USA   
35°20′N 119°55′W
   292   §38,369   $320   $3,197   $79,935
10
   Agua Caliente Solar Project   USA   
32°57.2′N 113°29.4′W
   290   §38,106   $318   $3,176   $79,388
11
   Antelope Valley Solar Ranch   USA   
34°46′N 118°25′W
   266   §34,952   $291   $2,913   $72,818
12
   Charanka Solar Park   India   
23°54′N 71°12′E
   224   §29,434   $245   $2,453   $61,320
13
   Mesquite Solar project   USA   
33°20′N 112°55′W
   207   §27,200   $227   $2,267   $56,666
14
   Mount Signal Solar   USA      206   §27,068   $226   $2,256   $56,393
15
   Gonghe Industrial Park Phase I   China      200   §26,280   $219   $2,190   $54,750
16
   
Huanghe Hydropower Golmud Solar Park
   China   
36°24′00″N95°07′30″E
   200   §26,280   $219   $2,190   $54,750
17
   Imperial Valley Solar Project   USA      200   §26,280   $219   $2,190   $54,750
18
   Copper Mountain Solar Facility   USA   
35°47′N 114°59′W
   192   §25,229   $210   $2,102   $52,560
19
   Centinela Solar Energy Project   USA   
32°40′55″N115°39′38″W
   170   §22,338   $186   $1,862   $46,538
20
   Solarpark Meuro   Germany   
51°32′N 13°55′E
   166   §21,812   $182   $1,818   $45,443
21
   Campo Verde Solar Project   USA   
32°45′N 115°43′W
   161   §21,155   $176   $1,763   $44,074
22
   
Imperial Solar Energy Center South
   USA   
32°47′N 115°42′W
   150   §19,710   $164   $1,643   $41,063
23
   Arlington Valley Solar II   USA   
33°18′39″N112°49′44″W
   145   §19,053   $159   $1,588   $39,694
24
   Neuhardenberg Solar Park   Germany   
52°36′49.62″N14°14′32.64″E
   145   §19,053   $159   $1,588   $39,694
25
   Catalina Solar Project   USA   
34°56′N 118°20′W
   143   §18,790   $157   $1,566   $39,146
26
   Welspun Solar MP project   India      130   §17,082   $142   $1,424   $35,588
27
   Templin Solar Park   Germany   
53°1′53.62″N13°32′18.92″E
   128.48   §16,882   $141   $1,407   $35,171
28
   Toul-Rosières Solar Park   France   
48.786672°N 5.979002°E
   115   §15,111   $126   $1,259   $31,481
29
   Perovo Solar Park   Ukraine   
44°54′N 33°56′E
   105.56   §13,871   $116   $1,156   $28,897
30
   Gansu Jiayuguan Solar Park   China      100   §13,140   $110   $1,095   $27,375
31
   Ningxia Qingyang Solar Park   China      100   §13,140   $110   $1,095   $27,375
32
   Xitieshan Solar Park   China   
37°18′34″N 95°29′5″E
   100   §13,140   $110   $1,095   $27,375
33
   
Sarnia Photovoltaic Power Plant
   Canada   
42°56′N 82°20′W
   97   §12,746   $106   $1,062   $26,554
34
   Brandenburg-Briest Solarpark   Germany   
52°26′12″N12°27′05″E
   91   §11,957   $100   $996   $24,911
35
   Solarpark Finow Tower   Germany   
52°49′31″N13°41′54″E
   84.7   §11,130   $93   $927   $23,187
36
   
Montalto di Castro Photovoltaic Power Station
   Italy   
42°21′N 11°35′E
   84.2   §11,064   $92   $922   $23,050
37
   Lopburi Solar Farm   Thailand   
14°56′N 100°46′E
   84   §11,038   $92   $920   $22,995
38
   Eggebek Solar Park   Germany   
54°37′46″N 9°20′36″E
   83.6   §10,985   $92   $915   $22,886
39
   
Oita City Mega-Solar Power Plant
   Japan      82.02   §10,777   $90   $898   $22,453
40
   Senftenberg Solarpark   Germany      81   §10,643   $89   $887   $22,174
41
   Finsterwalde Solar Park   Germany   
51°34′N 13°45′E
   80.7   §10,604   $88   $884   $22,092
42
   Datong Solar Park   China      80   §10,512   $88   $876   $21,900
43
   Okhotnykovo Solar Park   Ukraine   
45°14′N 33°35′E
   80   §10,512   $88   $876   $21,900
44
   Kalkbult Solar Park   
South Africa
      75   §9,855   $82   $821   $20,531
45
   Lesedi Solar Park   
South Africa
      75   §9,855   $82   $821   $20,531
46
   Letsatsi Solar Park   
South Africa
      75   §9,855   $82   $821   $20,531
47
   Lieberose Photovoltaic Park   Germany   
51°55′N 14°24′E
   71.8   §9,435   $79   $786   $19,655
48
   
Rovigo Photovoltaic Power Plant
   Italy   
45°02′N 11°34′E
   70.566   §9,272   $77   $773   $19,317
49
   
Kagoshima Nanatsujima Megasolar Project
   Japan   
31°28′00″N130°31′30″E
   70   §9,198   $77   $767   $19,163
50
   Sakri solar plant   India   
20°59′N 74°19′E
   70   §9,198   $77   $767   $19,163
51
   Nikolayevka Solar Park   Ukraine      69.7   §9,159   $76   $763   $19,080
52
   Sault Ste. Marie Solar Park   Canada   
46°33′N 84°21′W
   69   §9,067   $76   $756   $18,889
53
   Solarpark Alt Daber   Germany   
53°12′N 12°31′E
   67.8   §8,909   $74   $742   $18,560
54
   Gabardan Solar Park   France   
44°03′N 00°01′W
   67.2   §8,830   $74   $736   $18,396
55
   Alpine Solar   USA   
34.796925°N 118.512315°W[97]
   66   §8,672   $72   $723   $18,068
56
   Laowa Solar Park   China   
24°47′N 103°26′E
   66   §8,672   $72   $723   $18,068
57
   Green Tower   Germany      61   §8,015   $67   $668   $16,699
58
   
Wulanchabu Siziwangqi Solar Park
   China      60.5   §7,950   $66   $662   $16,562
59
   Karadzhalovo Solar Park   Bulgaria   
42°06′17″N25°19′18″E
   60.4   §7,937   $66   $661   $16,535
60
   Alpaugh Solar Plant   USA      60   §7,884   $66   $657   $16,425
61
   Crucey Solar Park   France   
48°38′44″N01°05′56″E
   60   §7,884   $66   $657   $16,425
62
   Olmedilla Photovoltaic Park   Spain   
39°37′N 02°04′W
   60   §7,884   $66   $657   $16,425
63
   Silver State North   USA   
35°37′N 115°21′W
   60   §7,884   $66   $657   $16,425
64
   Avenal Solar Facility   USA   
35°59′N 120°06′W
   57.7   §7,582   $63   $632   $15,795
65
   Massangis Solar Park   France   
47°38′N 03°58′E
   56   §7,358   $61   $613   $15,330
66
   Priozernaya Solar Park   Ukraine      54.8   §7,201   $60   $600   $15,002
67
   Strasskirchen Solar Park   Germany   
48°48′N 12°43′E
   54   §7,096   $59   $591   $14,783
68
   Walddrehna Solar Park   Germany   
51°47′N 13°38′E
   52.3   §6,872   $57   $573   $14,317
69
   Waldpolenz Solar Park   Germany   
51°19′N 12°39′E
   52   §6,833   $57   $569   $14,235
70
   Puertollano   Spain   
38°37′18.12″N3°58′31.31″W
   52   §6,833   $57   $569   $14,235
71
   Tutow Solar Park   Germany   
53°55′N 13°12′E
   52   §6,833   $57   $569   $14,235
72
   Pobeda Solar Park   Bulgaria   
43°31′16″N24°32′30″E
   50.6   §6,649   $55   $554   $13,852
73
   Gansu Dunhuang Solar Park   China   
40.07°N 94.5018°E
   50   §6,570   $55   $548   $13,688
74
   Golmud CPV Solar Park   China   
36°25′N 94°54′E
   50   §6,570   $55   $548   $13,688
75
   Hongsibao Solar Park   China   
39°20′N 106°44′E
   50   §6,570   $55   $548   $13,688
76
   Huaneng Geermu Solar Park   China   
36°23′13.2″N95°6′18″E
   50   §6,570   $55   $548   $13,688
77
   Qinghai Golmud Solar Park   China   
36°20′N 95°13′E
   50   §6,570   $55   $548   $13,688
78
   Weidi Solar Park   China   
26°10′34″N101°39′07″E
   50   §6,570   $55   $548   $13,688
79
   
Welspun Energy Rajasthan 50 MW Project
   India   
27°24′40.69″N72°9′30.40″E
   50   §6,570   $55   $548   $13,688
80
                        
81
   Total            §1,177,295   $9,811   $98,108   $2,452,698

Hi Ifloorwalker,

I've contacted the Cloudindustries - their technology might seem to be what I actually need for a solarpark we're working on.

I'd like to respond in private to you - go see your inbox.

BR,

Sunnyboy

Hi All,

I'd like to introduce myself here as a "oldtimer" of the solar industry, as I've been into solar since the mid-late 2000's and installed mostly household rooftop applications (in the hundreds) and studied PV Farms to the bone. So my background would rather more be into the hardware rather than the software side of things, sorry for that. Congrats to those who braught solarcoin already so far, its now time for people like me to put some steam into the solarcoin and create some buzz. I'd like to join in and bring some advice to push the currency further into its development.

First of all, thanks to Mazzaneo, as I've been discussing much with him about solarcoin (I'm one of those 8 investors) and wouldn't be here without him. Having read the brilliant DeKo paper, it seems to me that this cryptocurrency, in sharp contrast with many others, actually makes a lot of sense (and good). So in a word, I believe a lot in this cryptocurrency and the work accomplished to date is impressive.

My concern is Value. Indeed, in order to pickup and move (fast) forward, the solarcoin currency needs to prove that it creates value. You can argue to the fact that whereas fiat ccy is backed by gold on (at best) a 5 to 1 par (ie there is only 1USD of real gold value per 5USD of papermoney circulating out there), solarcoin actually is closer to a real, proven and quantifiable 1 to 1 ratio (ie. 1MWh of tangible solar electricity = 1SLR), so in essence, solarcoin is more trustable than gold. But my concern is the tangible. Indeed, in order to take off, this currency needs more than developers and investors. My concern stems to the fact that, in order to bring attraction to the currency, buzz has to be created ; people have to be enticed to either invest (with a forward thinking) into solarcoin (although there is a limit to that, if it is not to create a bubble) and/or list their solar farm or solar rooftop application through the Solarcoin Generator Registration Program. So in order to take off, solarcoin now needs hardware : actual pv fields or solar rooftops. Only then will it be proven that value is created. 

PV owners should simply register then!

The thing is : it's too complicated.

Most of the folk I know from my generation will be very dubious about cryptocurrencies in general, so why would they actually upload information of their solar rooftop application (remember that they need a solarcoin wallet to do this!), let alone invest in the ccy itself...!

Alas, if we don't have any registered solar farm or household PV applications, then widespread adoption of the currency will not follow (there currently is "only" 50.000 coins out there which have been registered through the SolarCoin Generator Registration Program). So we need an answer to this dilemma.

To my mind, what you are doing, Ifloorwalker is just that! By reviewing this Datalogger concept, you are creating a tool to help register these solar applications and create value.

So what is a datalogger ? Lets get to the basics :

An array of solar panels is connected to a/several inverter(s). Light (photons) activate solar cells of the solar panel which, in short, produce electricity in the form of DC current. The inverter converts DC into AC current and then, passed a couple of transformers, you feed this electricity  into the grid. I'm sure by now everybody knows this.
 
The inverter may be equipped (at the request of client, financing party/Bank) with a transmitter/controller/datalogger in order to monitor the amount of solar energy produced (kWh) and fed into the grid. This datalogger is attached directly to the inverter via an RS-485 (or other) cable. Usually, each inverter producer markets its own datalogger. They can be cabled (ethernet), wireless (wifi) or even remote-controled (with a mobilephone chip – sim card that will transmit the information on a daily/hourly basis to a Control Unit (usually at the headquarters of an Installer or an inverter manufacturer who supplies some extendible guarantee on the equipment)).

I will kindly refer you here to some types of monitoring devices/datalogger used widespread in the market : SMA's (inverter manufacturer) inverters are plugged to a datalogger (the sunny webbox) which will display indoors (on a small screen called the "sunnybeam") or directly onto your computer screen (via the "sunny portal"). Checkout : http://www.sma.de/en/products/monitoring-control.html

The datalogger I personaly like to work with is that of solarlog because you may use it with any type of inverter, regardless of the brand. See http://www.solar-log.com/en/home.html

The information sent to client might also be in an excel file or coded to UTF-8 (I personally don't know what that looks like) or some other code and might display info such as : ID - Name of installation, Monthly Energy [kWh] produced in May, Monthly Energy [kWh/kWp] for May, Yearly Energy produced to date [kWh] 2014, Yearly Energy [kWh/kWp] 2014.

In essence, such production information exists and may be used. Indeed, a datalogger is quite cheap (400-500usd max!) and rather than developing a brand new datalogger I'd recommend checking these out first (see above) to see if we couldn't actually use these.

What would we use these dataloggers for ?

I believe that with the information retrieved from each datalogger, we could ask any PV houselhold owner to simply have this information sent to us (ie : "us", being the solarcoin foundation) and we in turn, would manage the solarcoins for the client.

All a PV owner would have to do is register his solar PV info into the registration program, and let his datalogger send us his production info so that we know exactly when his solar installation has achieved 1MWh, at which point we would credit his wallet. The solarcoin foundation would manage his solarcoins until the day when this PV owner actually wants to redeem his coins (by which time, I'm sure he will have figured out how to manage a cryptocurrency wallet).

Now, I'm sure, there's a bigload of coding in order to setup such an interface between the datalogger and the plateform/interent site in order to retrieve this information (especially that each datalogger might have its own coding!), but I believe whomever does come with such an interface will make it (very) easy for Mr. Anybody to register his solar application through the SolarCoin Generator Registration Program.

Looking forward to meeting you all and the development team,

sunnyboy