The Energy Web community is the worlds largest open-source, decentralized ecosystem looking at ways to leverage blockchain technology for the energy sector. It consists of the Energy Web Chain, a first-of-its-kind public, enterprise-grade blockchain network that the energy industry can use to create and deploy completely customized decentralized apps.

The Energy Web Decentralized Operating System (EW-DOS) is an open-source, multi-layer digital infrastructure based on the Energy Web Chain blockchain. The project focuses on supporting a low-carbon, customer-centric energy future powered by decentralized technology.

The Energy Web ecosystem also offers the Energy Web Stack or EW-STACK, a set of open-source tools built on the Energy Web Chain, which can be used to develop decentralized apps (dApps) to support enterprise-grade applications for businesses in the energy sector. As of August 2021, the initiative has already forged more than 100 partnerships across 21 countries and supports 50 projects.

The Energy Web Token is the native digital asset of the Energy Web Chain. It is used to pay transaction fees while interacting with dApps within the EW ecosystem and can also be staked by validator nodes to help secure the network.

The Energy Web Chain operates as the Trust Layer of the Energy Web Stack. The open-source public blockchain utilizes a proof-of-authority (PoA) consensus mechanism to secure its infrastructure and offers support for smart contracts and dApps.

In addition to the Energy Web Chain, the EW-STACKs Trust Layer also includes the Energy Web Token (EWT), validator nodes that help verify transactions and contribute to block production, as well as the block explorer for the network. Derived from the Ethereum blockchain technology, EW Chain supports decentralized identities (DIDs) to power the trust element and supports decentralized infrastructure and dApps operating on it.

The EW-STACK also consists of the following critical components on top of the Trust Layer provided by the Energy Web Chain:

Infrastructure

The EW-STACK offers identity solutions, including:

• Switchboard decentralized identity and access management (IAM) interface
• Decentralized identifiers (DIDs) to manage the identity of any connected assets within the network
• IAM Client Lib package consisting of high-level functions for IAM within enterprises

In addition, the utility layer within the infrastructure component consists of several services, including staking, bridge, and more.

Applications

The Energy Web ecosystem offers various applications across DER Management, E-mobility, Traceability, and DeFi categories. The applications are designed keeping in mind the needs of businesses in the energy sector.

Energy Web launched in 2017 as an initiative co-founded by energy think-tank Rocky Mountain Institute and blockchain developer Grid Singularity (GSy) in association with ten founding Affiliates. In the initial stages following the launch, the Energy Web Foundations testnet used Ethereums Kovan network. The company launched its own dedicated testnet, Tobalaba, in November 2017.

The Energy Web Foundation increased the number of Affiliates from 10 to 37 by the first quarter of 2018. This figure exceeded the 100-mark a year later, by the end of Q1 2019.

The mainnet of Energy Web Chain was launched in June 2019. It was the worlds first enterprise-grade blockchain tailor-made for the energy sector.

The EW-DOS launch followed a few months later, going live in December 2019. A month later, it was implemented in partnership with Austrian Power Grid for the first time.

Energy Web Token (EWT) is becoming increasingly popular in the cryptocurrency market. One of its main strengths is its extensive list of partnerships with leading global businesses. These partnerships not only make EWT a more reliable investment but also increase its chances of success. For instance, the Energy Web Foundation global consortium and its growing list of Affiliates make investing in EWT appealing. Furthermore, BlackRock, a prominent global asset manager, has shown interest in EWT, mentioning its positive impact on making Bitcoin mining more sustainable. As more dApps are developed and deployed on the Energy Web Chain, the on-chain activity could drive the EWT price higher.

While it is difficult to predict the exact price of EWT, there are several factors that could contribute to its value as an investment. The innovation of more dApps and services on the Energy Web Chain through partnerships with energy sector companies is one of the main factors. Additionally, an improvement in market sentiment towards cryptocurrencies could benefit the EWT price. Although the current price is below its all-time high, supporting fundamentals and positive market sentiment could potentially drive the EWT price back to reclaim this level and even reach new highs in the future.

The EWT token serves various purposes within the Energy Web Chain and ecosystem. It is used as a utility token to pay transaction fees, such as gas fees for executing smart contracts and interacting with dApps on the EW-STACK. Additionally, EWT can be staked to contribute to securing the Energy Web Chain and earn rewards. It is also a crypto asset that can be traded or held long-term. Furthermore, EWT can be used for generating passive income through staking, lending liquidity, or yield farming on supported platforms.

Energy Web has partnered with various businesses across the energy sector, blockchain industry, and other established brands. Notable partners include Google.org, Volkswagen, Protocol Labs, Ripple, Energy Peace Partners, EDF, Elia Group, Fluvius, Filecoin, and Vodafone. The Energy Web Foundation has launched 50 projects focused on applications such as blockchain decarbonization, DeFi crowdfunding for energy access, an e-mobility dashboard, and the Open Charging Network (OCN).

Staking EWT is a great way to earn passive income and contribute to securing the Energy Web Chain. Here's how to stake EWT:

1. Visit the official staking pool operated by Energy Web on behalf of the Energy Web Community Fund.
2. Connect your wallet to the staking app and ensure you have sufficient funds for staking.
3. Verify your email address on the homepage.
4. Click on the Stake button, enter the number of EWT tokens you wish to stake, and confirm the transaction.
5. Explore the Energy Web Lab for information on active staking pools and choose the best one for your needs.
6. Stake your EWT through the chosen staking pool and start earning rewards.