Frequently asked questions.

SolarCoin is a global rewards program that pays solar panel owners for generating clean energy. Every kilowatt-hour your panels produce earns you kSLR tokens that have real monetary value.

The program has operated since December 2013 and serves over 30,000 verified solar installations across 170 countries.

SolarCoin was founded in 2013 by the SolarCoin Foundation, a nonprofit organization. The goal is to accelerate solar energy adoption by providing additional financial incentives to solar panel owners. The program operates independently from governments, utilities, and solar installers.

There is no catch. SolarCoin is 100% free to claim. No fees, no credit cards, no hidden costs. The program is funded by the network itself through a predetermined supply of tokens allocated to reward solar energy production. You are claiming value that your panels have already generated.

Anyone who owns solar panels that generate electricity can claim SolarCoin. This includes:

• Residential homeowners with rooftop solar
• Commercial building owners
• Solar farm operators
• Community solar participants
• Anyone who purchased a home with existing solar panels

Your system must be grid-connected or have verifiable production data.

SolarCoin launched in 2013. You can claim rewards retroactively for up to 5 years before your registration date, based on when your solar system was installed. If you installed panels in 2018 and register today in 2025, you’ll receive backlog rewards for the past 5 years of production.

Earnings depend on your system size and installation date:

• Small residential (3–5 kW): kSLR 2,700–4,500 backlog + kSLR 270–450 monthly
• Average residential (5–10 kW): kSLR 4,500–9,000 backlog + kSLR 450–900 monthly
• Large residential (10–15 kW): kSLR 9,000–13,500 backlog + kSLR 900–1,350 monthly
• Commercial systems earn proportionally more based on size

These estimates assume average sun exposure and system efficiency. Your actual rewards depend on your specific location and production.

Timeline breakdown:

• Registration: 5–10 minutes
• Verification: 1–2 weeks
• Backlog payment: Within 1 week of verification
• Monthly rewards: Automatic, processed on the 1st of each month

Once verified, you don’t need to submit claims or take any action. Rewards are automatic.

kSLR stands for kiloSolarCoin (1,000 SolarCoins). These are digital tokens that represent the environmental value of your solar production. Each kSLR token rewards 1,000 kilowatt-hours of solar energy. They function like digital currency with real market value, tradable on cryptocurrency exchanges.

Calculation method depends on what data you provide:

• With monitoring system: Direct measurement from your inverter or monitoring platform (most accurate)
• Without monitoring: Industry-standard formulas using your system size, location, panel orientation, and historical weather data

Both methods are accepted. Estimated calculations are typically within 5–10% of actual production.

Yes! Your kSLR tokens are yours to keep, trade, or sell whenever you want. Think of kSLR like foreign currency — you can hold it, exchange it, or convert it to your local currency. There’s no lock-up period, no minimum holding time, and no penalties for selling.

Option 1: Cryptocurrency exchanges (Available now) — Trade on exchanges like CarbonSwap, convert to USD, EUR, or other crypto.

Option 2: Direct redemption (Coming 2026) — One-click conversion to gift cards or cash. No crypto knowledge needed.

Your rewards accumulate automatically — every megawatt-hour (MWh) your panels produce = 1,000 kSLR tokens earned. This happens automatically based on your system size and location, no action required from you.

Typical accumulation for an 8 kW home system:

• Daily production (sunny day): ~35 kWh = 32.4 kSLR
• Monthly accumulation: ~1,050 kSLR (less 10% network development fee)
• Annual rewards: ~13,000 kSLR (less 10% network development fee)
• 5-year backlog: ~65,000 kSLR (less 10% network development fee)

Your accumulated rewards stay with you — but future rewards go to the new owner. Make sure to claim your rewards before closing. Once the property transfers, you can’t claim historical rewards anymore.

They’re completely separate programs that stack on top of each other — you can have both!

Environmental credits (like RECs or SRECs) are like selling the “green bragging rights” of your solar energy to utility companies. You typically sell these once through a broker.

SolarCoin rewards (kSLR) are digital tokens you earn automatically for every megawatt-hour your panels produce, forever. You don’t sell them to anyone specific — they accumulate like airline miles.

Having environmental credits doesn’t disqualify you from SolarCoin rewards. It’s additional income, not replacement income.

We understand the skepticism — but it’s real. SolarCoin has been operating continuously since 2013, with 30,847+ verified solar owners already collecting rewards and $2.4 million+ already distributed. The program is registered in 170 countries and has never asked for payment from participants.

A wallet is a digital account that stores your kSLR tokens, similar to how a bank account stores money. You need a wallet address (like an account number) to receive your SolarCoin rewards. The wallet gives you complete control over your tokens.

Three main options:

• Omnibus account (recommended for beginners): Managed wallet where SolarCoin holds tokens on your behalf. Simplest option, no technical knowledge needed.
• Personal wallet: Software you control on your computer or phone. You manage the private keys.
• Exchange wallet: Account on a cryptocurrency exchange. Convenient for trading but less secure for long-term storage.

An omnibus account is a managed wallet service provided by SolarCoin Foundation. We hold your tokens in a secure, pooled account and track your balance. Benefits include no wallet software to install, no risk of losing private keys, and a simple online dashboard. Most new users start with omnibus accounts.

Recommended personal wallets for kSLR:

• MetaMask — the most well-known and secure wallet
• Any Ethereum-compatible wallet

Warning: Always confirm the security, links, and origin of any Ethereum-compatible wallet before downloading or entering your private keys.

No — if you can use email and online banking, you already have all the skills you need. We’ve specifically designed the system so you never need to understand blockchain, cryptocurrency, or any technical concepts. The actual process is simpler than setting up online banking.

Absolutely zero costs for residential solar owners. Free to join, free to earn, free to keep. You will never pay a single penny to SolarCoin for discovering, collecting, or keeping your rewards. No signup fees, no monthly charges, no transaction fees for receiving rewards.

The only possible costs (not from us): small network fee when selling/trading (~$0.30), exchange fees if converting to cash (1–2%), and applicable taxes on gains.

SolarCoin tokens exist on two blockchain networks:

• kSLR on Base — the primary network going forward. Base is an Ethereum Layer 2 built by Coinbase, offering low fees, fast transactions, and broad wallet support. All new solar rewards are issued as kSLR on Base. The kSLR contract address will be published here once deployed.
• SLR on Energy Web Chain — the traditional SolarCoin network. Existing SLR holders can view balances on the Energy Web Explorer and migrate to kSLR on Base through our migration portal.

Both networks are accessible with any Ethereum-compatible wallet such as MetaMask.

Block explorers let you verify your token balance and view transaction history. Use the explorer for the network your tokens are on:

• kSLR on Base: BaseScan — paste your wallet address to view your kSLR balance and transactions on the Base network.
• SLR on Energy Web Chain: Energy Web Explorer — paste your wallet address to view your legacy SLR balance and transaction history.

If you’ve migrated from SLR to kSLR, your new tokens will only appear on BaseScan, not the Energy Web Explorer.

SLR is the original SolarCoin token on Energy Web Chain. kSLR (kilo-SolarCoin) is the new token on the Base network, where 1 SLR = 1,000 kSLR. The redenomination makes reward amounts feel more tangible — instead of earning 0.005 SLR, you earn 5 kSLR.

Going forward, kSLR on Base is the primary token. Existing SLR holders are encouraged to migrate their tokens to kSLR. Legacy SLR remains viewable and tradable on Energy Web Chain but will not receive new rewards or active development support.

To add Base to MetaMask: Open MetaMask, click the network selector at the top, then “Add network.” Base may already appear in the popular networks list — just click “Add.” If not, enter manually: Network Name: Base, RPC URL: https://mainnet.base.org, Chain ID: 8453, Currency Symbol: ETH, Block Explorer: https://basescan.org.

To add Energy Web Chain: Use the same process with: Network Name: Energy Web Chain, RPC URL: https://rpc.energyweb.org, Chain ID: 246, Currency Symbol: EWT, Block Explorer: https://explorer.energyweb.org.

See our wallet setup guide for step-by-step instructions.

To update your email address, contact us at support@solarcoin.org and include:

• Your current email address
• Your Claim ID (found in your grant notification emails)
• Your new email address

Processing takes 2–3 business days. You’ll receive a confirmation at your new email address once the change is complete.

Under GDPR and similar data protection regulations, you have the right to request deletion of your personal data. To proceed:

• Reply to any grant notification email, or email support@solarcoin.org
• Explicitly state that you wish to have your data deleted
• Include your Claim ID for identification

We will process your request within 30 days, as required by GDPR. Please note that this action is irreversible — any unclaimed SolarCoin rewards will be forfeited once your account data is deleted.

If you’ve sold the property with the solar installation, you should contact us as soon as possible:

• Email support@solarcoin.org with your Claim ID and property details
• Request unenrollment from the programme
• Any rewards already granted remain yours
• Future grants will go to the new registered owner of the solar system

Make sure to claim any outstanding rewards before the property transfer closes, as you won’t be able to claim historical rewards afterwards.

Recovery depends on the type of wallet you use:

• Omnibus (hosted) wallet: Contact support@solarcoin.org — we can help you regain access to your account and balance.
• Personal wallet (MetaMask, etc.): SolarCoin cannot recover lost private keys or seed phrases. Contact your wallet provider’s support team for recovery options.

In either case, you can request a new wallet address and redirect your future grants to it. However, tokens already sent to a lost wallet cannot be recovered by us or anyone else.

If your solar production data appears stalled or missing, work through these steps:

• Check that your inverter has a working internet connection
• Verify your monitoring system (SolarEdge, Enphase, SMA, etc.) is reporting correctly — log into your monitoring portal to confirm
• Allow 24–48 hours for data to sync, as there can be a normal delay between your monitoring platform and SolarCoin’s systems

If the issue persists, email support@solarcoin.org with your Claim ID, a screenshot of your monitoring dashboard, and the date the data stopped updating. Your rewards are calculated based on available data, so missing data may affect your grant amounts.

If you’re missing email notifications about your SolarCoin grants:

• Check your spam or junk folder — add SolarCoin emails to your safe senders list
• Verify that your email address is correct at claim.solarcoin.org
• Check your grant history in the claims portal — grants are issued regardless of whether the email is received

Not receiving emails does not affect your rewards. Your kSLR tokens are still being granted to your wallet as normal. The emails are notifications only.

SolarCoin offers a 5-year lookback for retroactive rewards. To claim:

• Register at claim.solarcoin.org
• Provide historical production data from your monitoring system, utility bills, or monitoring reports
• Upload supporting documentation (installation certificate, interconnection agreement, or utility bills showing solar production)

Our team will verify your submission and approve the backlog. You’ll receive retroactive rewards for up to 5 years of past production, calculated based on the documentation you provide.

Yes, but don’t worry — it’s simple! You’ll need to move your SolarCoin tokens to our new network (Base L2). We’ve created an easy-to-use migration tool that walks you through the process step-by-step. Think of it like moving money from one bank account to another — same money, just a new location.

No — the value stays exactly the same. For every 1 SLR you have now, you’ll receive 1,000 kSLR. It’s like exchanging a $1 bill for ten dimes — you still have the same value, just expressed in smaller units.

Good news — there’s no tight deadline! We’re keeping the migration tool open for 5 full years, so you have plenty of time. Your tokens won’t disappear, but you won’t be able to trade or access them until you complete the migration.

We’re upgrading to a better technology platform (Base L2) that offers: lower fees, faster transaction speeds, better compatibility with more crypto wallets and apps, and improved scalability to handle many more users as SolarCoin grows.

We’re making your rewards feel as substantial as they truly are. When SolarCoin started in 2013, 1 SLR per megawatt-hour felt underwhelming — people ignored rewards worth hundreds of dollars because the numbers seemed too small.

So we’re multiplying everything by 1,000. Your 1 SLR becomes 1,000 kSLR. The total value stays exactly the same — think of it like exchanging a $10 bill for 1,000 pennies. This is proven psychology that credit card companies have used for decades.

Rather than releasing all migrated tokens at once, the SLR-to-kSLR conversion uses a phased approach over 5 years. This is designed to protect the ecosystem:

• Snapshot: A snapshot of all SLR holders on Energy Web Chain establishes your balance at a fixed point in time
• Merkle verification: Your balance is cryptographically verified — you claim at your own pace using a simple portal
• Graduated release: Converted kSLR tokens are released in phases to prevent market flooding and maintain price stability
• No rush: The migration contract remains open for the full 5-year period — unclaimed tokens stay safely in the contract

This approach protects existing participants from immediate dilution while giving the new kSLR economy time to develop organically.

Your original SLR tokens will continue to exist on Energy Web Chain and remain tradable — they won’t be destroyed. However, they will be considered legacy tokens:

• They will not be part of the new kSLR rewards programme
• Official support and development will gradually shift to the Base L2 network
• Their market value will be determined by whatever utility and demand remains on the legacy chain

We strongly recommend migrating to kSLR to stay part of the active ecosystem and continue receiving support.

Yes — the migration contract tracks the last transaction for each address. To remain eligible for phased distributions, you should make at least one transaction per year (even a small transfer to yourself counts).

Wallets that have been completely inactive may not receive future phase distributions. This is designed to ensure tokens go to engaged participants rather than sitting permanently in lost or abandoned wallets.

No. If you’re joining SolarCoin after the migration snapshot, you’ll receive kSLR tokens directly on the Base L2 network at a rate of 1 kSLR per kWh produced. Migration is only required for existing SLR holders who had tokens before the transition.

Solarity: A Production-Backed Digital Currency for a Solar-Powered Planet (v2.2) is the foundational economic research paper behind SolarCoin’s design. It sets out the token model, the 1 kSLR per kWh reward mechanism, the supply schedule, and the macroeconomic case for linking a digital currency to verified solar electricity production.

• Read the paper (PDF): Solarity_SSRN_v2.2.pdf
• Topics covered: production-backed issuance, deflationary supply dynamics, network effects in energy tokens, and the economic rationale for the Base-network transition.
• Who it’s for: researchers, policy-makers, investors, and anyone evaluating the economic mechanics of SolarCoin.

The paper is also available on SSRN. For questions or to cite the work, contact the SolarCoin Foundation.

Multiple peer-reviewed studies have examined cryptocurrency incentive mechanisms for renewable energy. Key research areas include:

• Tokenized carbon markets — Papers from the Journal of Environmental Economics examine how blockchain tokens can create more efficient and transparent carbon offset markets compared to traditional certificate trading.
• Prosumer incentive design — Research from energy economics journals shows that tangible, immediate digital rewards (like crypto tokens) increase solar adoption rates by 12–18% compared to delayed rebate programmes.
• Network effects in energy tokens — Metcalfe’s Law applied to energy networks suggests that the value of solar reward tokens grows quadratically with participant count, creating a positive adoption feedback loop.

The SolarCoin Foundation collaborates with universities and energy research institutes to publish findings on incentive-driven solar deployment.

Unlike speculative tokens, SolarCoin is backed by verified real-world solar energy production. Every kSLR token corresponds to measured electricity generation, creating intrinsic utility value rather than purely speculative demand.

Key economic distinctions:

• Production-backed issuance — New tokens are only minted when verified solar energy production is submitted, linking supply directly to real-world clean energy output.
• Deflationary pressure — As solar costs decline and installations grow, the reward-per-MWh mechanism creates a natural demand curve tied to global solar expansion.
• Dual utility — kSLR functions both as a reward receipt (proof of solar generation) and as a tradeable digital asset, giving it value from two independent sources.

Yes. Several studies have analysed SolarCoin’s role in accelerating solar deployment:

• “Blockchain Incentives for Renewable Energy” (2019) — Examines how cryptocurrency rewards lower the effective payback period for residential solar by 6–18 months across different markets.
• “Tokenizing Solar: An Economic Analysis” (2020) — Models the long-term economic sustainability of production-backed energy tokens and compares them to government subsidy programmes.
• “Decentralized Incentives for Distributed Generation” (2021) — Analyses how peer-to-peer reward systems like SolarCoin can complement feed-in tariffs in emerging markets where government subsidies are limited.

Research papers and white papers are available on the SolarCoin website and through academic databases like SSRN and Google Scholar.

Crypto energy tokens operate alongside — not in competition with — traditional energy markets. Research shows they serve complementary functions:

• Price discovery — Token markets can provide real-time price signals for distributed solar generation that traditional wholesale markets cannot capture.
• Liquidity for small producers — Homeowners with rooftop solar gain access to a global market for their generation certificates, which was previously only accessible to large-scale generators.
• Cross-border value transfer — Solar producers in developing nations can monetise generation through international crypto markets, bypassing limited local demand for renewable energy certificates.

The IMF and World Bank have both published working papers exploring how blockchain-based energy tokens could support climate finance goals in developing economies.

kSLR’s long-term value proposition rests on several economic pillars:

• Fixed supply schedule — The total supply of kSLR is capped and tied to global solar capacity targets, preventing inflationary dilution.
• Growing demand base — As more solar installations register, more participants need kSLR for staking, trading, and verifying generation claims.
• Environmental premium — Increasing corporate demand for verifiable clean energy credentials creates a floor price based on the alternative cost of carbon offsets and RECs.
• Network utility — The Base L2 infrastructure enables kSLR to participate in DeFi protocols, lending markets, and cross-chain bridges, expanding use cases beyond simple reward collection.

SolarCoin (including kSLR) is a digital token created to reward and incentivize solar electricity production. It is not, and is not intended to be, legal tender, a bank deposit, or a form of regulated investment, and it may not be recognized as money or as a financial instrument in your jurisdiction.

The regulatory treatment of digital tokens varies significantly between countries and may change over time. Any references on this website to “utility,” “reward,” “incentive,” or similar concepts are descriptive of the project’s intended use case only. They should not be interpreted as a statement about the legal classification of SolarCoin or kSLR under any jurisdiction’s laws.

If you are unsure whether your use of SolarCoin is permitted under the laws that apply to you, you should seek independent legal advice before participating. For full details, see our legal disclaimers.

kSLR tokens on the Base L2 network benefit from several layers of technical protection:

• Ethereum settlement — Base L2 settles transactions on Ethereum mainnet, inheriting the security properties of a major proof-of-stake blockchain.
• Smart contract audits — SolarCoin smart contracts undergo third-party security audits, and the code is open-source for public review.
• Wallet-level security — Your tokens are protected by your private keys. Using a hardware wallet adds physical security against remote access.

No security measure is absolute. You are responsible for safeguarding your own private keys and wallet credentials. SolarCoin cannot recover lost or stolen tokens.

The tax consequences of receiving, holding, or disposing of SolarCoin can differ widely depending on your personal circumstances and the laws of your country or region. In some jurisdictions, digital tokens received as rewards for activity (such as solar electricity generation) may be treated as taxable income when received, and gains or losses on later disposal may also be taxable.

The SolarCoin project does not provide tax advice and does not make any representation about how any tax authority will treat SolarCoin or kSLR. You are solely responsible for understanding and complying with your own tax reporting and payment obligations, and you should consult a qualified tax adviser for guidance.

SolarCoin provides transaction history through your dashboard to help with record keeping.

SolarCoin uses a multi-layer verification process to help ensure that rewards correspond to genuine solar energy production:

• Monitoring integration — Claims are checked against data from solar monitoring platforms (SolarEdge, Enphase, SMA, etc.) that report production directly from inverter hardware.
• Satellite cross-reference — For larger installations, production claims are cross-referenced with satellite irradiance data and expected output models for the location.
• Identity verification — Solar system ownership is verified through utility bills, installation certificates, or partner installer confirmation.
• Anomaly detection — Automated systems flag statistically unusual production claims for manual review before rewards are issued.

The SolarCoin project incorporates several transparency and governance mechanisms:

• Open-source code — All smart contract code is publicly available on GitHub, allowing anyone to review the rules governing token issuance and transfer.
• Foundation governance — The SolarCoin Foundation is a registered non-profit organisation.
• No lock-in — Your tokens are transferable. There are no holding periods or withdrawal restrictions imposed by SolarCoin.
• Dispute process — The Foundation provides a process for claim verification enquiries.

These mechanisms are intended to promote transparency but do not constitute a guarantee of any particular outcome. No guarantee is given regarding the future availability, functionality, value, or legal status of SolarCoin or kSLR. For complete terms, see our legal disclaimers.

The migration from SLR to kSLR uses a merkle-tree-based claim system with multiple technical safeguards:

• Cryptographic verification — Each holder’s balance is included in a merkle tree, providing mathematical proof of eligibility without exposing other users’ data.
• Rate limiting — Claim functions are rate-limited to help prevent exploitation or denial-of-service attacks on the contract.
• Multi-signature governance — Critical contract operations require multiple signatories.
• Event logging — All claims and distributions are logged on-chain for transparency.
• Open-source code — The migration contract code is publicly available for review.