[ANN][SLR] SolarCoin | PoW to PoS v. 2.0 | Solar Proof of Generation (§1 = 1MWh)

[nickgogerty]

That is correct.  The initial POW (proof of work) block reward jan 2014 was §100/min.

In August 2014 a hard fork was introduced which brought the reward down to its current §0.5 over a brief period. see http://blockexplorer.solarcoin.org/browse_blocks/SolarCoin. 

This was done to minimize the inflationary effects of over issuance, an initial design flaw in the coin. 

The next move is to POSV (proof of stake velocity) as soon as possible.  The shift to proof of stake does 2 important things. It secures the block-chain more effectively as the available POW resources in play are huge relative to the SLR community. Secondly and more importantly, POSV is significantly less carbon intensive and thus aligns the solarcoin network with the overall mission of the coin to generate more sustainable energy. POS wasn't considered mature enough at the launch of the coin.

[nickgogerty]

POSV update and other goings on.   

There is good news and bad.  First the bad news.

Our POSV approach is going back to the drawing board. A communication error for which I am partly to blame led development to go down a path which would have involved POSV implementation using the release of a new blockchain and subsequent migration of everyone's coin onto it via an exchange.  when I realized this I discussed it with a few people and this was considered too risky.

The method for POSV migration we are going for is the same one used at the last hard fork. see below

• The current block chain is maintained.
• The new tested POW/POSV client is released
• At a pre-determined future block the chain flips from current POW to POSV

My apologies for an increased delay on this. 

Now for the good news. Independantly of the SolarCoin Foundation which has 1 priority right now (POSV), 2 independent groups are working to grow the community of participating solar energy generators by building independant SLR claims sites. 

1 group is in Europe and 1 in the US. Both teams are going to make it easier for non-coin people to claim SolarCoins etc. using web based solutions. meaning users won't have to download blockchains etc. The sites will work like air-miles claims sites.  Each of these sites will be independently maintained but audited by the SolarCoin.org foundation.  The projects are underway but don't have launch dates yet.

If anyone has technical skills or would like to reach out the project leaders on these sites, feel free to reach me.  Both projects are being run by people with deep solar industry knowledge and contacts. After they are launched and POSV is up Solar industry and media will be reached out to.

This is the model going forward which allows more savvy local marketing and distribution partners to facilitate claims. Individuals can still download a wallet and claim SolarCoins at Solarcoin.org, but many may find it easier use web based solutions that are tailored to their region or country.  These claims sites are offering these services in exchange for the 10% of 1st yr. referal claim donated from the genesis pool. These sites or others serve the claimants by maintaining accounts on behalf of clients and facilitating the verification of MWh generated and claimed.

[y_virtual]

Haha :-) It's easy to sell to your own bids, expecting for someone else to freak out and start looking for the exit, then get their SLRs even cheaper ;-) But please believe me: me being a system tester (a very good one!), I know exactly who you are. Since you will eventually get short on SLRs, make sure you know when to stop the 'good ole' routine of yours, and start buying back, at any price, because I WILL make sure to get you as short as possible - just like last time. Yes, I know, I know - any buy price above 1700 will be at a loss for a 1700 dumper, but... well, everyone makes mistakes, that's how we learn. Being smart is a matter of choice, and we here have made ours...

Cheers ;-)

[y_virtual]

....
This is the model going forward which allows more savvy local marketing and distribution partners to facilitate claims. Individuals can still download a wallet and claim SolarCoins at Solarcoin.org, but many may find it easier use web based solutions that are tailored to their region or country.  These claims sites are offering these services in exchange for the 10% of 1st yr. referal claim donated from the genesis pool. These sites or others serve the claimants by maintaining accounts on behalf of clients and facilitating the verification of MWh generated and claimed.

Nick, this is all good news, thank you for the update!

This model to facilitate claims looks like the right way to go. The web based solution the 2 teams are already working on - will that be made available to implement on a claim site someone else builds for their region? I can register a SolarCoin related regional domain name, already have a dedicated webserver to point the domain name to, and if I can integrate on this website the web-based claims solution you refer to, that would be great!

Thank you!

[nickgogerty]

I think that depends on the respective teams approaches. One team is exploring building a web based wallet and claims process using a RESTful approach which would be easily deployable as a thin client across platforms. 

The other team is using a claims database approach with a loosely coupled wallet which will likely be hot linked over time.  In terms of the two groups approaches to open sourcing and sharing the solutions they build that is to be determined by them.  As the groups get farther along they may share ideas and there planned progress etc.  It's early days, but we are excited to have talented and motivated people who are connected with the solar industry working to grow the user who are claiming and using SolarCoin. 

Nick

[vipgelsi]

I think that depends on the respective teams approaches. One team is exploring building a web based wallet and claims process using a RESTful approach which would be easily deployable as a thin client across platforms.  

The other team is using a claims database approach with a loosely coupled wallet which will likely be hot linked over time.  In terms of the two groups approaches to open sourcing and sharing the solutions they build that is to be determined by them.  As the groups get farther along they may share ideas and there planned progress etc.  It's early days, but we are excited to have talented and motivated people who are connected with the solar industry working to grow the user who are claiming and using SolarCoin.  

Nick

Sounds great just make sure the hot wallets do not contain to much slr in case of a hack.

Thanks everyone!

[corather]

I think that depends on the respective teams approaches. One team is exploring building a web based wallet and claims process using a RESTful approach which would be easily deployable as a thin client across platforms.  

The other team is using a claims database approach with a loosely coupled wallet which will likely be hot linked over time.  In terms of the two groups approaches to open sourcing and sharing the solutions they build that is to be determined by them.  As the groups get farther along they may share ideas and there planned progress etc.  It's early days, but we are excited to have talented and motivated people who are connected with the solar industry working to grow the user who are claiming and using SolarCoin.  

Nick

Sounds great just make sure the hot wallets do not contain to much slr in case of a hack.

Thanks everyone!

Hopefully the online wallets are being designed as brain wallets so there is no wallet key to hack. If you used a complex enough password it would be impossible to break the key, unless there was a keylogger present.

[nickgogerty]

A simple explanation:
SolarCoins are tradable things. SolarCoins have a growing but mostly stable supply and are easily exchangeable. Like air-miles this makes SolarCoin behave like a form of money. 

Money gets its value from two things, tradability and speculation. A Money has tradable value based on expectations its can buy things, the more people that accept a money to buy things, the more tradable value a money has. 

A money gets speculative value when people believe it has the potential for increased future trading power. Speculative value increases when there many people believe that there will be increased demand for a money.

It is hoped that SolarCoin's tradable value grows as the number of people willing to trade things for it increases. SolarCoin is less interested in driving its speculative value as this can lead to bubbles and price volatility.

Bitcoin is a form of money that is estimated to have 3m holders and participants. All the Bitcoin in circulation today is worth $4.17 billion US*. That means each Bitcoin participant currently creates $4.17 billion / 3 million = $1,390 in tradable and speculative value.

An important milestone for SolarCoin will be having 100,000 participants, a mix of solar energy claimants, merchants and others. With an estimated 50million circulating SolarCoin and 100,000 participants, using a similar economic value relationship as Bitcoin, Each SolarCoin could be worth $2.78 based on 100,000 participants * $1,390 economic value / 50 million circulating solarcoins. 

The table below shows potential SolarCoin prices using future estimates of circulating SolarCoins (energy claimants) and numbers of participants. 

Note in the early stage the number of limited participants likely means tradable value is less, due to fewer choices of things to buy or trade for.
 
*13.9 million circulating Bitcoin x $300/ Bitcoin.=$4.17 billion (as of March 2015)

[metalron]

Are we close to the staking stage yet?

[MasterCryptoPool]

Crypto Finance lets you keep track of your cryptocurrencies, miners, investments and equities, and generates regular reports of your portfolio. Check it out for free at: https://www.crypto-finance.com/

Solarcoin is now accepted in Crypto-Finance.com for premium accounts.

[lfloorwalker]

Solcrypto has the coinbalance "wallet" feature operational for over a month in every user account.
Over 1 year in operation and track record.

Well established in the Japanese Solar PV community now after advertising at the major PV industry event.
Developments in progress for further features incl. app, and wallets.

Thanks,
lfloorwalker

[vipgelsi]

50,000 Solarcoins sent to cold storage Thanks who sold 

[y_virtual]

50,000 Solarcoins sent to cold storage Thanks who sold 

+10

[barabbas]

One word: Solarfarm. worth more than 10 timer the current market cap of SLR. In just a few days. A Thailandese guy who cannot even speak or write English.
And yet, he has achieved in a few days what this pretentious project hasn't been able to even remotely achieve in over a year. Food for thought, isn't it?

I don't want to be completely negative here but are there are signs of any progress anywhere in this project? Please DO point them up, ok? How is this being distributed to new users (beyond the exchanges, of course)? What is being actually done to ease the process of claiming rewards for proof of generation? Get this and get this very clearly, alright: People who instal systems in their roof, in a vast majority, will NOT claim those rewards, much less promote it, under the current circumstances: No one KNOWS Solarcoin exists. No one wants to download a wallet to their computers, especially given THE FACT that no one knows what the heck is Bitcoin, much less what the heck is a "wallet" (the digital kind) and even less a cryptocurrency like SLR somehow capable to be linked and produce rewards to their solar systems.

It is IMPERATIVE that the whole process is:

1.- Clearly explained, in layman's terms, to those people who are installing systems on their roofs.
2.- That those people are targeted  and reached so they are made aware of the fact that they are entitled to SLR rewards.

There are a number of ways to achieve this. Many, in fact. From printing fliers and distribute them to homes with systems in place to contacting the very  firms that sell/install the systems to offer it as part of their incentives. From a MUCH CLEARER explanation on the solar website, to adwords . But perhaps the most effective would be if SLR owners/enthusiast would be incentivized to actually do the walking. Knock on the doors and explain, live and in person, the convenience and rewards. 10% incentive is NOT cutting it. perhaps a lump sum on signing, will do the trick. Reviewing currents situation though, since IMPERATIVE since it is not working nor yielding any results as a consequence.

Price is being hit in the exchanges. Volume is practically non-existent and all signs point to the demise of the entire project. Because, although I know some are "working" on it, the appearance is that nothing is being done, no progress is actually made and, in fact, any new project in the field, even those with no reach or potential, would take the space by storm since SLR is actually insignificant, of no consequence.

The currency aspect of the project need re-vitalizing. Direly. POS, speed, security, adoption... whatever. Promotions, bounties, features... signs of LIFE!

But, perhaps more importantly -for it'd reverberate on the currency, is the actual, real world, distribution to the people for which the coin was created in the first place and that, so far, have been and remain robbed from  what is theirs rightfully: The reward that Solarcoin offers  to those who do the big jump and go solar.

And since probably some would look for the easy, computer-coach answer to all of this: Talk is cheap, I WILL do the walk: Make better, instant incentives and I will personally walk my -and other- neighborhoods and talk to the adopters. Sign them up. Give them understandable paperwork (perhaps an actual card with a balance in SLR already? they are very cheap and would promote the project better than most other alternatives...) Get the thing actually moving, achieving measurable results. Ok? Many would do it in their neighborhoods also.

Lets do it... or resign ourselves to SLR being a semi-abandoned hobby project of no interest, value or relevance to anyone.

 

[CryptoNick]

One word: Solarfarm. worth more than 10 timer the current market cap of SLR. In just a few days. A Thailandese guy who cannot even speak or write English.
And yet, he has achieved in a few days what this pretentious project hasn't been able to even remotely achieve in over a year. Food for thought, isn't it?

I don't want to be completely negative here but are there are signs of any progress anywhere in this project? Please DO point them up, ok? How is this being distributed to new users (beyond the exchanges, of course)? What is being actually done to ease the process of claiming rewards for proof of generation? Get this and get this very clearly, alright: People who instal systems in their roof, in a vast majority, will NOT claim those rewards, much less promote it, under the current circumstances: No one KNOWS Solarcoin exists. No one wants to download a wallet to their computers, especially given THE FACT that no one knows what the heck is Bitcoin, much less what the heck is a "wallet" (the digital kind) and even less a cryptocurrency like SLR somehow capable to be linked and produce rewards to their solar systems.

It is IMPERATIVE that the whole process is:

1.- Clearly explained, in layman's terms, to those people who are installing systems on their roofs.
2.- That those people are targeted  and reached so they are made aware of the fact that they are entitled to SLR rewards.

There are a number of ways to achieve this. Many, in fact. From printing fliers and distribute them to homes with systems in place to contacting the very  firms that sell/install the systems to offer it as part of their incentives. From a MUCH CLEARER explanation on the solar website, to adwords . But perhaps the most effective would be if SLR owners/enthusiast would be incentivized to actually do the walking. Knock on the doors and explain, live and in person, the convenience and rewards. 10% incentive is NOT cutting it. perhaps a lump sum on signing, will do the trick. Reviewing currents situation though, since IMPERATIVE since it is not working nor yielding any results as a consequence.

Price is being hit in the exchanges. Volume is practically non-existent and all signs point to the demise of the entire project. Because, although I know some are "working" on it, the appearance is that nothing is being done, no progress is actually made and, in fact, any new project in the field, even those with no reach or potential, would take the space by storm since SLR is actually insignificant, of no consequence.

The currency aspect of the project need re-vitalizing. Direly. POS, speed, security, adoption... whatever. Promotions, bounties, features... signs of LIFE!

But, perhaps more importantly -for it'd reverberate on the currency, is the actual, real world, distribution to the people for which the coin was created in the first place and that, so far, have been and remain robbed from  what is theirs rightfully: The reward that Solarcoin offers  to those who do the big jump and go solar.

And since probably some would look for the easy, computer-coach answer to all of this: Talk is cheap, I WILL do the walk: Make better, instant incentives and I will personally walk my -and other- neighborhoods and talk to the adopters. Sign them up. Give them understandable paperwork (perhaps an actual card with a balance in SLR already? they are very cheap and would promote the project better than most other alternatives...) Get the thing actually moving, achieving measurable results. Ok? Many would do it in their neighborhoods also.

Lets do it... or resign ourselves to SLR being a semi-abandoned hobby project of no interest, value or relevance to anyone.

 

This post just made me realize how doomed this project is. You are going to go explain this door to door? Wow dedicated but misguided. I just realized something too while trying to figure out a way to make this coin work again, what I realized is that BitCoin will always be worth something since it takes power/electricity to create it along with the costs of ASIC Miners. Whatever the costs are and were, makes the floor, whatever it is worth as profit or speculative is the motive. Something that took nothing to create just to make a better BitCoin model will never be adopted, since no one will be driven to buy Solar just to create a coin. Even if they are, or just want to claim credits, then they will wring out any profit they can and pay off their systems with it. So you need people buying in at that point and perpetually to sustain it.

Think about it, you own a Solar rig, you hear about Solar Coin, lets say you even hold your credited coin for a few months. What else is there to do with the coin but wait for the price to go up? So you see a bump in price, you take your coin to market, I guess that is all you can really do since you already bought your SolarCoin T-Shirt in USD and can get it for free by selling off the credited coin.

The only ability of this coin to make progress will be those who think it is worth investing in who buy in. Anyone who gets credits will automatically sell them at market for BitCoin. So you have a constant sell off. People who buy these sells can use the coin of course, but on what? Even if there is something to use it on the Merchant must go back to Fiat and sells, perpetual downtrend. So you have a repeating cycle and downward trend. No stability since there is too much coin, then you have profiteers, but it will soon be proven you can not make a profit so even they will go away.

Hope you guys figure this out somehow...

[vipgelsi]

I used to look foreward to reading the board meetings any news on resuming those?

[corather]

I'm not worried at all about the progress of Solarcoin. There is plenty of action going on in the background, like progress on the PoS wallet, and the inflation problem has been cut to almost zero. This isn't a short term project, it will take many months for things to really take off, but when they do it will be self evident the need for this technology.

[y_virtual]

I'm not worried at all about the progress of Solarcoin. There is plenty of action going on in the background, like progress on the PoS wallet, and the inflation problem has been cut to almost zero. This isn't a short term project, it will take many months for things to really take off, but when they do it will be self evident the need for this technology.

+10

Right on spot. All the talk is just that - talk. Anyone who actually wants to work on the project to further the progress can begin/continue putting their efforts at any time.

Thanks!

[y_virtual]

One word: Solarfarm. worth more than 10 timer the current market cap of SLR. In just a few days. A Thailandese guy who cannot even speak or write English.
And yet, he has achieved in a few days what this pretentious project hasn't been able to even remotely achieve in over a year. Food for thought, isn't it?

I don't want to be completely negative here but are there are signs of any progress anywhere in this project? Please DO point them up, ok? How is this being distributed to new users (beyond the exchanges, of course)? What is being actually done to ease the process of claiming rewards for proof of generation? Get this and get this very clearly, alright: People who instal systems in their roof, in a vast majority, will NOT claim those rewards, much less promote it, under the current circumstances: No one KNOWS Solarcoin exists. No one wants to download a wallet to their computers, especially given THE FACT that no one knows what the heck is Bitcoin, much less what the heck is a "wallet" (the digital kind) and even less a cryptocurrency like SLR somehow capable to be linked and produce rewards to their solar systems.

It is IMPERATIVE that the whole process is:

1.- Clearly explained, in layman's terms, to those people who are installing systems on their roofs.
2.- That those people are targeted  and reached so they are made aware of the fact that they are entitled to SLR rewards.

There are a number of ways to achieve this. Many, in fact. From printing fliers and distribute them to homes with systems in place to contacting the very  firms that sell/install the systems to offer it as part of their incentives. From a MUCH CLEARER explanation on the solar website, to adwords . But perhaps the most effective would be if SLR owners/enthusiast would be incentivized to actually do the walking. Knock on the doors and explain, live and in person, the convenience and rewards. 10% incentive is NOT cutting it. perhaps a lump sum on signing, will do the trick. Reviewing currents situation though, since IMPERATIVE since it is not working nor yielding any results as a consequence.

Price is being hit in the exchanges. Volume is practically non-existent and all signs point to the demise of the entire project. Because, although I know some are "working" on it, the appearance is that nothing is being done, no progress is actually made and, in fact, any new project in the field, even those with no reach or potential, would take the space by storm since SLR is actually insignificant, of no consequence.

The currency aspect of the project need re-vitalizing. Direly. POS, speed, security, adoption... whatever. Promotions, bounties, features... signs of LIFE!

But, perhaps more importantly -for it'd reverberate on the currency, is the actual, real world, distribution to the people for which the coin was created in the first place and that, so far, have been and remain robbed from  what is theirs rightfully: The reward that Solarcoin offers  to those who do the big jump and go solar.

And since probably some would look for the easy, computer-coach answer to all of this: Talk is cheap, I WILL do the walk: Make better, instant incentives and I will personally walk my -and other- neighborhoods and talk to the adopters. Sign them up. Give them understandable paperwork (perhaps an actual card with a balance in SLR already? they are very cheap and would promote the project better than most other alternatives...) Get the thing actually moving, achieving measurable results. Ok? Many would do it in their neighborhoods also.

Lets do it... or resign ourselves to SLR being a semi-abandoned hobby project of no interest, value or relevance to anyone.

 

https://bitcointalk.org/index.php?topic=785257.msg10728334#msg10728334

[y_virtual]

This post just made me realize how doomed this project is. You are going to go explain this door to door? Wow dedicated but misguided. I just realized something too while trying to figure out a way to make this coin work again, what I realized is that BitCoin will always be worth something since it takes power/electricity to create it along with the costs of ASIC Miners. Whatever the costs are and were, makes the floor, whatever it is worth as profit or speculative is the motive. Something that took nothing to create just to make a better BitCoin model will never be adopted, since no one will be driven to buy Solar just to create a coin. Even if they are, or just want to claim credits, then they will wring out any profit they can and pay off their systems with it. So you need people buying in at that point and perpetually to sustain it.

Think about it, you own a Solar rig, you hear about Solar Coin, lets say you even hold your credited coin for a few months. What else is there to do with the coin but wait for the price to go up? So you see a bump in price, you take your coin to market, I guess that is all you can really do since you already bought your SolarCoin T-Shirt in USD and can get it for free by selling off the credited coin.

The only ability of this coin to make progress will be those who think it is worth investing in who buy in. Anyone who gets credits will automatically sell them at market for BitCoin. So you have a constant sell off. People who buy these sells can use the coin of course, but on what? Even if there is something to use it on the Merchant must go back to Fiat and sells, perpetual downtrend. So you have a repeating cycle and downward trend. No stability since there is too much coin, then you have profiteers, but it will soon be proven you can not make a profit so even they will go away.

Hope you guys figure this out somehow...

Just in case you missed this real-life answer to your concerns - came out a week or so ago:
http://www.coindesk.com/clients-prompt-green-energy-supplier-to-accept-bitcoin/