Please describe your proposed solution

Problem Awareness:

Current energy markets tend to be concentrated, inefficient and expensive. Renewable energy producers, such as solar panel owners, struggle to find affordable, fair markets to sell their excess energy. Methods and rationale:

Our solution is a decentralized peer-to-peer energy trading platform built on the Cardano blockchain. The platform connects producers and consumers of renewable energy so that they can trade energy directly. The security, transparency and decentralized nature of the blockchain ensures trust in transactions and proper tracking of energy.

Participation in the project:

The program is aimed at producers of renewable energy (solar, wind, etc.), energy consumers looking for green energy, and regulators interested in transparent and fair energy markets. Impact Demonstration:

The pilot program will be implemented in partnership with energy producers to measure consumption and gather feedback on how the platform can improve access to green energy and reduce transaction costs. Key performance indicators will include the number of energy transactions, user satisfaction and carbon footprint reduction. The unique value of the solution:

The platform enables individuals and companies to independently trade renewable energy, reducing dependence on traditional centralized energy markets. The solution promotes widespread use of clean energy, supports Cardano's commitment to sustainability and has the potential to scale globally.

Importance to Cardano:

The project enhances Cardano’s decentralized infrastructure by showing how blockchain can be used in energy markets, expanding Cardano’s impact beyond financial services into sustainability and climate solutions.

Please define the positive impact your project will have on the wider Cardano community

The platform will improve Cardano as a multifunctional blockchain ecosystem, proving its use in the energy market in the real world. As energy producers and consumers use decentralized identity and smart contracts for transactions, this will increase circuit activities. The platform will support Cardano's sustainability mission by promoting the growth of renewable energy consumption and empowering people to control their energy consumption.

Power measurement:

Key performance indicators (KPIs) include the number of renewable energy trading transactions, the amount of energy traded, the level of user utilization and the total reduction of CO2 emissions.

Share achievements and opportunities:

All code will be open source and shared on GitHub, along with educational materials, success stories, and technical webinars. These resources will facilitate further development and expansion.

What is your capability to deliver your project with high levels of trust and accountability? How do you intend to validate if your approach is feasible?

Our team includes experts in blockchain development and renewable energy markets. We will follow Agile methodologies and develop a prototype on Cardano’s testnet to validate our concept. Milestone-based funding and transparent reporting will ensure project accountability.

What are the key milestones you need to achieve in order to complete your project successfully?

Milestone 1: Milestone 1: Research & System Design (Months 1-2)

• Outputs: Complete system architecture design, UI/UX blueprint, and smart contract framework.

• Acceptance Criteria: Finalized documentation detailing platform design, core functionalities, and user flows.

• Evidence of Completion: Submission of design documents.

Milestone 2: Milestone 2: Development of Smart Contracts & Prototype (Months 3-5)

• Outputs: Smart contracts for peer-to-peer energy trading on Cardano testnet.

• Acceptance Criteria: Prototype supporting basic energy transactions and tracking.

• Evidence of Completion: Testnet logs and demo of prototype functionality.

Milestone 3: Milestone 3: Pilot Testing & Feedback Collection (Months 6-8)

• Outputs: Pilot testing with renewable energy producers and consumers.

• Acceptance Criteria: Feedback from pilot users and identification of platform improvements.

• Evidence of Completion: Usage metrics and feedback reports.

Milestone 4: Milestone 4: Security Audits & Platform Optimization (Months 9-10)

• Outputs: Third-party security audits and platform optimizations.

• Acceptance Criteria: Security audit reports and optimized codebase.

• Evidence of Completion: Security audit documentation and performance benchmarks.

Final Milestone: Final Milestone: Full Deployment & Close-out Report (Months 11-12)

• Outputs: Mainnet deployment, user guides, and project close-out report.

• Acceptance Criteria: Positive feedback from users, live platform, and final project report.

• Evidence of Completion: Deployment logs and final report.

Who is in the project team and what are their roles?

Mentesnot Berhanu (Project Lead)

• Role: Overseeing the project, managing relationships with stakeholders, and coordinating the team.

• Experience: Experienced in blockchain and renewable energy markets, with strong project management skills.

Blockchain Developer

• To be recruited

• Skills: Cardano development, Plutus/Haskell smart contracts.

• Recruitment: Engaging with the Cardano developer community.

Energy Market Specialist

• To be recruited

• Skills: Expertise in energy trading, regulations, and market operations.

• Recruitment: Actively searching for an experienced professional.

UI/UX Designer

• To be recruited

• Skills: User-friendly design, blockchain platform experience.

• Recruitment: Engaging with UI/UX professionals within the Cardano ecosystem.

Security Auditor

• To be recruited

• Skills: Blockchain security, smart contract audits.

• Recruitment: Exploring partnerships with security firms.

Technical Writer

• To be recruited

• Skills: Writing technical documentation and user guides.

• Recruitment: Searching for a writer with blockchain experience.

Please provide a cost breakdown of the proposed work and resources

Project manager: 30,000 ADA

Blockchain Developer: 40,000 ADA

Energy Market Specialist: 25,000 ADA

UI/UX Designer: 15,000 ADA

Security Auditor: 10,000 ADA

Technical Writer: 5,000 ADA

Infrastructure and tools:

Server Hosting & Infrastructure (12 months): 8,000 ADA

Development tools and software licenses: 3,000 ADA

Security and auditing:

Third Party Smart Contract Audits: 5,000 ADA

Penetration test: 4,000 ADA

Marketing & Outreach:

Educational campaigns and webinars: 5,000 ADA

Community involvement and promotional material: 4,000 ADA

Contingency fund:

Contingency fund: 6,000 ADA

No dependencies.

How does the cost of the project represent value for money for the Cardano ecosystem?

This budget ensures efficient use of resources while providing a high-impact platform to address key challenges in the energy market. Through decentralized energy trading, the initiative provides real-world applications of the Cardano blockchain that promote ecosystem efficiency in sustainable development. The open source nature allows the community to expand on the platform, ensuring long-term benefits and continuous innovation.