Evolving Together: Refining the Sourceful Energy Points System

Building a truly effective network of Distributed Energy Resources (DERs) is a journey, not a destination. At Sourceful Energy, a core part of that journey involves continuously refining how we recognize and reward the contributions that strengthen our network. Today, I want to share some perspective on the latest evolution of our points system.

Our mission is ambitious: to orchestrate a global network of DERs for a more sustainable energy future. Achieving this requires a robust, reliable, and responsive system. That's why ensuring our points system accurately reflects true value is not just important, it's fundamental.

Three Phases of Our Points Evolution

Our points system has evolved alongside our network through distinct phases:

• Phase 1 (Early Days): In the very beginning, the focus was purely on establishing initial connections. Points were awarded to participants whose assets maintained uptime for at least 7 days within a 30-day period – reflecting our extremely early stage.

• Phase 2 (Daily Participation): As the network grew, we shifted to encouraging consistent daily participation. Rewards were distributed daily to every gateway that was online for a certain threshold each day.

• Phase 3 (Data Quality & Value - Our Current Stage): We have now entered Phase 3. While daily connectivity remains foundational, we are beginning to incorporate data quality metrics reflecting the value contributions bring to the network. This marks a significant step towards recognizing not just presence, but the quality and significance of participation.

This progression is deliberate. As we move forward, the system will continue to evolve, because what ultimately matters – and what must be rewarded – are the metrics that define a high-quality, reliable, and valuable network.

The Focus within Phase 3: Rewarding Quality and Control

This Phase 3 focus on data quality and value naturally leads us to look closely at the characteristics that make contributions truly useful. Why is this so important? Think of the requirements for advanced energy systems like Virtual Power Plants (VPPs): they rely heavily on secure, real-time communication, precise monitoring, and the ability to control assets reliably to ensure grid stability and participate effectively in energy markets. Our focus on high-quality data and control capability directly supports building this type of robust infrastructure. We need resources that provide demonstrable value, which primarily means:

1. A steady stream of high-quality, verifiable data.

2. The capability for low-latency communication and control.

What This Means for Connections

This evolution naturally means we differentiate more between connection types based on these quality metrics:

• Third-Party APIs: These remain a valuable part of our ecosystem, providing useful data insights, and they continue to earn points reflecting their contribution level.

• Sourceful Gateway Connections: These direct connections are becoming increasingly vital. The Gateway typically offers superior data quality, lower latency, the potential for local control, and enhanced security via its crypto chip. These characteristics directly address the core technical needs of high-performing energy networks, such as the secure, encrypted connections and real-time responsiveness essential for VPP operations. Consequently, connections demonstrating these qualities are weighted more significantly in the evolving points system because they contribute more directly to the network's core capabilities.

• Validated Data Streams: Combining data sources brings even greater value. When we can validate data from the Gateway against a third-party API, or use real-time data from a connected utility meter alongside the Gateway, it significantly boosts network trust and reliability. This level of verified data is fundamental for the accurate forecasting and optimization required by sophisticated energy management systems, mirroring the data integrity needs highlighted in VPP architectures. This cross-validation demonstrates a higher quality of contribution and will be rewarded accordingly.

Embracing the Evolution & What's Next

This shift towards rewarding validated, high-quality data and control capability is essential for building a network that can deliver on its promises. It means that point allocations may change for participants within this current phase. Some will see increases, particularly those whose connections provide high-quality, validated data streams or demonstrate control capabilities, while others might see adjustments based on the assessed value of their contribution. This is a necessary alignment to ensure we are incentivizing the components most critical for our collective success.

It’s important to be clear: Phase 3 marks the start of refining our reward metrics based on data quality and the overall value provided to the network. We will continue to fine-tune this approach as we gather more data and feedback. Looking further ahead, we anticipate incorporating more sophisticated factors, perhaps including overall network quality metrics impacting grid stability, but we are not there yet. The focus now is on successfully implementing and refining this crucial step towards value-based rewards.

Alongside these system evolutions, we've also made a practical update to the user interface based on your feedback: rewards are now clearly aggregated per wallet, simplifying the overview of your contributions.

This is not the final iteration, but another important step in our continuous improvement process. For those interested in more technical details on our approach to metrics, our CTO shared some further insights here on X.

Your Voice Matters

As always, this journey is one we take with our community. Your feedback has been instrumental in shaping Sourceful Energy, and it remains critical as we refine our systems. We are listening, learning, and committed to transparency. Please continue to share your thoughts and experiences with us.

Thank you for being part of this exciting venture. Together, we are building the future of energy.
Fredrik Ahlgren
CEO, Sourceful Energy