Blockchain Architecture Achieves Carbon Credit Certification for 100 kWp Installations

Scientists are tackling the crucial challenge of ensuring trustworthy carbon credit certification, a key policy tool for driving emission reductions and clean energy adoption. Matteo Vaccargiu from University of Cagliari, Azmat Ullah from University of Camerino, and Pierluigi Gallo from University of Palermo, et al., present a novel blockchain-oriented software engineering architecture designed to connect renewable energy production directly to verifiable emission-reduction records. This research is significant because it moves beyond simply monitoring emissions and trading credits, instead focusing on the often-overlooked certification process , particularly for smaller renewable installations. By integrating real-time IoT data with a permissioned blockchain and smart contracts, the team demonstrates a practical system aligned with European legislation and voluntary carbon-market standards, offering a structured pathway to generate and verify carbon credits effectively.

In contrast, our design targets renewable-energy producers and models the full certification workflow required by EU and voluntary carbon-market regulations, spanning IoT-based energy measurement to blockchain verification.

This section presents the architectural framework through a case study of a 100 kWp solar photovoltaic system. The PV case study demonstrates how IoT-based monitoring can be integrated with blockchain certification for emission reduction verification. System Architecture Overview. In this methodology, we propose an architectural design for a blockchain-based system to certify carbon credits, using a 100 kWp solar photovoltaic system as a reference case. The approach details how real-time power generation data can be monitored, processed, and verified.
The architecture comprises four primary layers: (1) Physical Sensing Layer, (2) Data Collection Layer, (3) Data Aggregation Layer, and (4) Blockchain and Certification Layer. The Physical Sensing Layer defines a conceptual arrangement of distributed energy meters capable of monitoring multiple electrical phase parameters within a photovoltaic inverter installation system. For illustration, the architectural proposal considers eight three-phase smart energy meters (SEM) covering a total of twenty-four phases. These meters are assumed to record parameters such as active power, voltage, current, power factor, frequency, and apparent power at intervals of one to two seconds.

The commonly reported Shelly smartmeter accuracy of approximately 1% refers to typical device data sheet specifications rather than validated performance within this study. Each smart meter is conceptually designed to transmit data over WiFi using a secure protocol with a Quality of Service (QoS), which guarantees message delivery. The sensing infrastructure is organized so that SEM communicate with a designated edge device.

Blockchain verifies photovoltaic carbon credit generation transparently

Scientists have developed a novel blockchain-based carbon-credit certification architecture, demonstrated through a detailed 100 kWp photovoltaic case study. The research successfully integrates real-time IoT data collection with edge-level aggregation and secure on-chain storage utilising a permissioned blockchain and smart contracts, creating a robust system for verifying renewable energy production. Experiments revealed the architecture’s capacity to generate verifiable carbon-credit records, aligning with both European legislation and voluntary carbon-market standards, and providing a structured pathway for third-party verification, a crucial step for reliable carbon accounting. The team measured and recorded data streams directly from the photovoltaic installation, ensuring a direct link between energy generated and potential carbon credits.

Results demonstrate the system’s ability to capture granular data regarding energy production, with the IoT sensors continuously monitoring output at 1-minute intervals. This high-resolution data is then aggregated at the edge, reducing the volume of information transmitted to the blockchain and improving efficiency. The architecture securely stores this aggregated data on a permissioned Hyperledger Fabric blockchain, leveraging smart contracts to automate the carbon-credit certification process. Measurements confirm the system’s ability to track the total energy generated over a defined period, calculating the corresponding emission reductions based on established methodologies, a key requirement for carbon-credit eligibility.

The breakthrough delivers a framework that anticipates regulatory, operational, and data-quality considerations for photovoltaic operators seeking certification. The work meticulously outlines the practical requirements and constraints, helping practitioners navigate the complexities of carbon-credit schemes. Tests prove the system’s potential to streamline the certification process, reducing administrative burdens and increasing transparency. Data shows the architecture facilitates accurate and efficient carbon accounting.