Blockchain solar-energy marketplace Power Ledger raises AUD17m
Australian peer-to-peer renewable energy marketplace Power Ledger has raised more than AUD17m ($13.6m) in presales, ahead of the country's first initial coin offering (ICO). Power Ledger's blockchain technology allows companies and organisations to buy and sell solar power directly over the network. The company said both distribution events had contribution caps, but that the ICO demand "significantly exceeded" their expectations. Power Ledger plans to use the funds to expand into India and other emerging markets.
Power Ledger, a blockchain-based peer-to-peer renewable energy marketplace, has netted more than $17 million AUD through two POWR token presales. Once it opens to the ...

Power Ledger, a blockchain-based peer-to-peer renewable energy marketplace, has netted more than $17 million AUD through two POWR token presales. Once it opens to the public, the Power Ledger ICO is expected to raise more than $30 million.

The Power Ledger ICO is Australia’s first initial coin offering, and the Perth-based company has attracted notable investors, including Blockchain Capital and venture capitalist Bill Tai.

The Power Ledger P2P marketplace, which has already been rolled out to some parts of Australia, allows property owners and organizations to buy and sell solar power over a blockchain-secured network. POWRs, which are ERC20 tokens and thus tradeable on the Ethereum blockchain, can be converted to SPARKZ, the marketplace’s native currency. Users can then trade SPARKZ for units of electricity on the company’s private blockchain.

According to a media release, Power Ledger held both a discounted private presale and a public presale. Both of these distribution events had contribution caps, and they raised a total of $17 million AUD, which includes $8.8 million in direct USD investment. On September 8, Power Ledger will begin an uncapped sale, after which they expect to have raised $30 million.

https://twitter.com/PowerLedger_io/status/903177331698798592

“Demand has significantly exceeded our expectations,” remarked co-founder and Managing Director Dave Martin. “As the first Australian ICO, we’ve been breaking new ground, and have been unable to rely on precedent to help us set targets. We initially hoped to raise a conservative AUD$5-$10 million, but the strength of the market response has been phenomenal.”

The company plans to use the funds to open its marketplace to new platforms, including India and other emerging markets.

“We want to spread the tokens far and wide, allowing as many potential future users access to them from inception and creating a diverse and powerful network,” Martin added. “We believe that literally giving power back to the people will catalyze the movement towards peer-to-peer renewable energy trading, which lies at the core of Power Ledger.”