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Glow Protocol

The leading DePIN solar protocol. Industrial solar farms with cryptographic verification.

Overview​

AspectDetail
FocusIndustrial solar farms
TokensGLW (governance), GCC (carbon credits)
Network70 farms (California to India)
Revenue$25M ARR
BlockchainSolana
Founded2023

The Model​

Glow inverts traditional solar economics:

TraditionalGlow
Revenue → Shareholders → Reinvestment (15-20%)Revenue → Protocol → 100% Reinvestment
Investors capture valueOperators earn tokens
Carbon credits opaqueGCC transparent on-chain
Geographic constraintsGlobal capital arbitrage

Recursive Subsidy​

Electricity Revenue
        ↓
    Protocol Treasury
        ↓
    ┌───┴───┐
    ↓       ↓
Deploy  Token Rewards
More     (GLW + GCC)
Farms

Capital amplification: Each $1 invested generates ~$20 of infrastructure.

Additionality​

Only new solar construction qualifies for rewards. No existing farms. This ensures verified additionality for carbon credits.

Geographic Arbitrage​

LocationCost per kWIrradianceAdvantage
India~$5001,800+ kWh/m²/year5x cost efficiency
US (Southwest)~$2,5002,000+ kWh/m²/yearHighest yield
US (Northeast)~$3,0001,400 kWh/m²/yearLocal demand

Protocol coordinates capital to flow where economics are best.

Tokens​

GLW (Glow Token)​

FunctionMechanism
GovernanceVote on protocol parameters
StakingEarn rewards from network
Operator RewardsEarned for verified generation

GCC (Glow Carbon Credit)​

FunctionMechanism
Carbon Representation1 GCC = 1 tonne CO2 avoided
VerificationIoT + satellite + on-chain
SaleSold to carbon buyers
RetirementOn-chain retirement record

Verification System​

Three-layer verification for generation claims:

Layer 1: IoT Meters​

  • Hardware attestation from certified meters
  • Real-time generation data
  • Tamper detection

Layer 2: Satellite Imagery​

  • Independent confirmation of farm activity
  • Corroborate claimed generation
  • Detect anomalies

Layer 3: Weather Correlation​

  • Expected yield based on irradiance data
  • Physical plausibility check
  • Flag impossible claims

Claim legitimacy target: >85%

Economics​

Farm Operator Returns​

Revenue StreamSource
GLW RewardsVerified generation
GCC ValueCarbon credit sales
Electricity(100% to protocol)

Protocol Sustainability​

MetricStatus
Revenue$25M ARR
Growth80% MoM (beta period)
Network70 farms
CO2 Avoided300K tonnes (lifetime)

Deployment​

Qualification Requirements​

  1. Location — High irradiance, favorable economics
  2. Additionality — New construction only
  3. Interconnection — Clear path to grid connection
  4. Equipment — Certified panels, inverters, meters

Process​

1. Application
   └─► Submit location, design, timeline

2. Review
   └─► Protocol evaluates economics, additionality

3. Approval
   └─► Farm accepted into network

4. Construction
   └─► Deploy equipment with IoT monitoring

5. Verification
   └─► Begin earning GLW + GCC

Competitive Position​

AdvantageDetail
First MoverLeading DePIN solar protocol
VerificationStrongest proof of generation
Capital Efficiency20x recursive multiplier
Geographic ReachCalifornia to India
RiskMitigation
Token SustainabilityRevenue-backed model
RegulatoryFocus on compliant jurisdictions
CompetitionNetwork effects, verification moat

Resources​

Context​