Congrats Jan
, and thanks for sending me this great news.
It shouldn't be an easy task, especially it seemed you needed to convince a "she" to support a new technology (assuming she didn't hear about the blockchain technology or Bitcoin before).
The businnes where she is working was just looking for reward system using points like airmails but a real energy currency has so many benefits that she saw directy huge value of that. In Arnhem there are many shops and bars you can pay with BitCoin so she know what that is. The blockchain technology maybe she is not aware what that means for now but comes later. If the first neibourhood pilot is succesfull we have to fill that in with technologies used for NXT-exchange and Counterparty and investments of large companies are needed to finance that in later phace. But the focus is to reduce carbon emissions by citizens.
Figure 1 EnergyCoin reward Peer-to-Peer Ecosystem.
EnergyCoin Cooperation want to achieve:
1. energy-conscious behavior by stimulating connected energy use e.g. smart meters
2. prevent CO2 emissions by buying green power exclusively
3. sustainable city climate by community use of the EnergyCoin
4. solidarity between citizens by pooling the EnergyCoin
In figure 1 are the actors of the EnergyCoin P2P-Ecosystem. The citizens are part of the community and each have an account in the Green Energy Exchange. The system is open for growth until the community is taking part for 100%. Every party with a smart meter can participate in the Green Energy Exchange. By buying green energy one can get not only the energy but also EnergyCoins. Also you get EnergyCoins when your car battery is connected with the green grid. If you supply to the green grid you get also EnergyCoin. The way to spend EnergyCoin :
1. To buy green power production facilities e.g. urban windmill and solar panels
2. To improve the quality of energy saving measures local support with installation and materials
3. The buy locally produced foods and goods, including art.