SolarNOW

SolarNOW was ValueX's Technology Readiness Level 3 pilot project that validated the core technical and regulatory feasibility of blockchain-based community solar participation. Supported by Portugal's IAPME agency, this proof-of-concept tested whether digital tokenisation could enable small-scale shared ownership of solar energy assets while complying with Portuguese cooperative law.

The pilot focused on three critical validation points. First, technical integration of Unity-IoT sensors from partner Sunified, which embedded crypto-anchored sensors directly into individual solar panels to generate tamper-proof, panel-level energy data. This created a reliable data oracle for precise ownership tracking and transparent energy production monitoring. Second, the development of smart contracts enabling fractional ownership through share tokens representing economic participation in a Portuguese energy cooperative. Third, the creation of smart contracts organising the energy returns based on each members’ participation.

SolarNOW demonstrated that blockchain infrastructure could support community energy projects at small scale. Tokens representing economic participation rather than direct asset ownership solved many complex regulatory challenges.

The test validated that local communities could participate in solar ownership. Members would purchase tokens proportional to their energy consumption needs, maintaining the mutual benefit principle required by Portuguese cooperative legislation.