The Energy Web Foundation (EWF) has launched a blockchain and application layer test network.
The test network, codenamed Tobalaba, will facilitate both commercial and non-commercial blockchain applications in the energy sector.
It uses Parity Technologies’ Aura Proof-of-Authority consensus engine to help energy companies and other organisations validate transactions.
The Singapore Power Group, Engie and Shell are already set up on the system.
“Notably, the EWF blockchain client will be made open source under the GPL V3 license,” said the EWF vice president, Ewald Hesse.
“The source code will be available to the public from 1 November, with enhancements added continuously and developments published on the EWF wiki and presented at the Event Horizon annual summits.”
The EWF is a partnership between the American think tank Rocky Mountain Institute and blockchain developer Grid Singularity to spearhead the cutting-edge technology in the energy business.
It was launched in May and has been backed by several international companies, including Centrica, Engie and Royal Dutch Shell.