The global electric vehicle (EV) market is exploding. Over 14 million electric vehicles were sold in 2023 alone. By 2030, Europe’s fleet is expected to exceed 40 million. Alongside this surge in adoption, EV owners aren’t just looking for range and convenience, they are looking for accountability. More and more, consumers want to ensure they have access to verifiable green energy for EV charging. 

With grid pressure mounting and regulators and customers demanding transparency, the question isn’t just “how many EVs will hit the road every year?” It is about “how clean, traceable, and affordable can their energy be?”

This blog dives into how purpose-driven technology like blockchain can help EV charging networks, energy suppliers, and users unlock the next era of clean mobility.

What is verified green energy?

Verified green energy ensures that the electricity used by EV charging stations is generated from renewable sources such as solar, wind, or hydro. This is crucial because it directly impacts the carbon footprint associated with the operational life of electric vehicles. Without verification, there is no guarantee that the electricity used to charge EVs is clean, which could undermine the environmental benefits of adopting electric vehicles in the first place.

Verified green energy provides a clear and trustworthy certification that the energy is indeed green. This builds consumer trust and encourages more people to switch to electric vehicles, knowing they are making a genuine difference. Imagine your rooftop solar panels would, at times of generating more power than you currently need, directly supply a car at a nearby charging station instead of feeding that surplus into an already burdened grid. Now consider all EV charging stations doing the same, sourcing clean energy directly from a nearby energy community or generation facility thereby maximising their use of clean energy and optimising the balance of generation and supply in the grid.

This is the potential of decentralised energy systems. They bring power closer to where it’s consumed, reduce waste, and ensure that every unit of clean energy is put to meaningful use exactly when and where it’s needed most.

Ways to source green energy for charging stations

Sourcing 100% green energy for EV charging stations involves a multi-pronged strategy that prioritises access to renewables, financial sustainability, and community involvement.

1. PPAs
   A foundational step is to collaborate with certified green energy providers through Power Purchase Agreements (PPAs). These long-term contracts offer a fixed price for renewable electricity, typically from wind or solar farms, ensuring both price stability and energy provenance. Based on generation and usage readings, the energy supplied via the PPA and the energy used by the EVs are matched.

2. On-Site Renewable Generation
   Installing solar panels or small wind turbines at or near charging stations enables direct green energy generation. This approach not only reduces grid dependency and operational costs but also reinforces your sustainability, something that resonates with eco-conscious EV drivers.

3.  Renewable Energy Certificates (RECs)
   Where direct green energy supply isn’t feasible, RECs offer a flexible alternative. Each certificate represents proof that one megawatt-hour (MWh) of renewable energy was generated and fed into the grid. Purchasing RECs allows charging operators to offset conventional energy use and claim renewable consumption legally and credibly.

4. Peer-to-Peer (P2P) Energy Trading Communities
   Blockchain-enabled P2P energy platforms allow prosumers like individuals or businesses that generate excess renewable energy to sell it directly to nearby users, including charging stations. By participating in these decentralised energy ecosystems, you can access locally produced, traceable green power while fostering community resilience and democratising energy access.

5. Hybrid Approach for Scalability
   Most successful strategies that blend these approaches are balancing PPAs for base load, RECs for flexibility, on-site generation for visibility and cost-efficiency, and P2P platforms for community-driven impact.
   

The key role of decentralised technology for green energy verification
Blockchain technology is becoming a valuable solution for building trust in renewable energy. At electric vehicle charging stations, where transparency is not just nice-to-have but also a competitive edge, it helps confirm that the electricity being used is actually from clean sources.

Blockchain enables tracking of clean energy from its generation to consumption on a secure and decentralised ledger. Every transaction is logged in real time and cannot be changed, creating a trustworthy and permanent record. This kind of visibility gives both businesses and consumers confidence. It ensures that claims about green energy are based on facts and provides a simple way to verify how sustainable the charging process really is.

Powerledger’s verified green energy traceability solution for EVs:

Powerledger has developed a blockchain-powered solution for energy matching and tracking, offering granular energy visibility of renewable usage, including for EV charging. This ensures that every kilowatt-hour (kWh) consumed at EV charging stations is fully matched with 100% renewable energy. By using blockchain, it ensures secure, transparent, and traceable energy usage for all users.

Powerledger’s Vision platform offers 24/7 Energy Matching solution, which enables:

• Real-time energy traceability from source to socket
• Dynamic price discovery and carbon-free energy scoring
• Access to green energy when it is abundant
• Automate energy provenance reports for audits and compliance

Competitive benefit:

With Vision, EV charging stations or charge point operators (CPOs) can differentiate themselves by offering verifiable green energy. Powerledger’s technology allows users to see the live energy mix at any charging location and adjust their behavior accordingly. It provides incentives for users to save on charging costs and charge in the most sustainable way by ranking charging stations according to their price and carbon-free energy (CFE) score.

Regulatory compliance:

Europe’s Alternative Fuels Infrastructure Regulation (AFIR) mandates smart charging capabilities and greater transparency in energy sourcing. Fleet operators and CPOs must demonstrate verifiable clean energy usage or risk non-compliance.

Powerledger’s Vision platform not only supports these mandates but also they turn them into opportunities. Operators can monetise surplus energy, automate settlement via smart contracts, and drive sustainable behaviours like charging with nearby clean energy charging stations, charging when green energy is abundant. 

By offering traceable energy, CPOs don’t just meet regulations but also win consumer loyalty. Ready to offer clean EV charging that’s more than just a label? Get in touch.