Getting Started
Joining Glow starts with one simple question: is solar right for you? If you’ve been looking for a way to generate clean energy, lower your power costs, and earn rewards, this could be your moment to jump in.
All you need is:
- A suitable property — a roof or space where brand-new panels can be installed
- A plan for installation — either through an upfront purchase, financing, or a PPA (Power Purchase Agreement)
- An interest in long-term impact — your system will keep producing clean energy and rewards for years to come
Not sure how big your system should be? The size you can install depends largely on your available space and your electricity usage.
As a general guide:
- Roof size determines your maximum system size. For example, a standard 1,000 sq ft roof can typically fit ~10 kW of panels.
- System size translates to annual energy production - e.g., 1 kW can produce roughly 1,200–1,600 kWh per year, enough to power appliances like refrigerators, lights, or small HVAC systems
Here is a quick benchmark: an average family of four consumes about 9,000–11,000 kWh per year. In most regions, that translates to a 7–9 kW system, roughly 20–24 standard solar panels. Your exact needs will vary depending on your location, roof space, and energy habits.
Once your system is verified through the Glow Audit, your solar farm becomes eligible to earn GLW token rewards, distributed weekly based on your system’s competitiveness and size.
Choose and Engage a Solar Installer
You can either work with one of Glow’s trusted partners — installers who are already familiar with our audit process — or bring in your own certified local contractor. Either way, your installer will take care of the essentials:
- Deliver a detailed quote
- Design your system layout and manage permits
- Handle panel mounting, wiring, inspections, and Permission to Operate (PTO) scheduling
Onboard to the Glow Audit Hub
Create Your Account and Application
Head to hub.glow.org to create your account and submit your application. Simply follow the steps in the Hub, from connecting your crypto wallet to adding your farm details and documents.
Once you’ve submitted your application, a Glow Verification Entity (GVE) will follow up by email to confirm the details and guide you through next steps.
Farm Efficiency Score
When you submit your farm details, the Glow Hub calculates a Farm Efficiency Score, a measure of how competitive your solar installation is expected to be.
The score is determined by the location of your Solar Farm, the estimated system size and the estimated local cost of power.
From these estimated inputs, the Hub generates your Efficiency Score, expressed as the number of carbon credits expected per $10,000 of protocol deposit. This score provides an early indication of how many GLW tokens your farm might earn.
Declaration of Intent
Once your application is submitted, the Audit Hub generates a cryptographic Declaration of Intent. This Declaration of Intent is a formal statement from the Solar Farm Owner (or the Solar Installer), specifying their intent to join the Glow Ecosystem, including the property's location (latitude and longitude), the date of consideration and the installer’s full name. This date is pivotal as it sets the timeline for all subsequent procedures and document reviews.
Pay Audit Fees
To support the work of GVEs and cover equipment costs, a standard audit fee of $1,200 applies for residential solar farms. This fee includes:
- Two GVE site visits: one for pre-installation and one for post-installation photos
- A Monitoring Box for real-time electricity tracking
- Essential installation supplies, such as a breaker, wire, mounting hardware, and a current transformer
For commercial solar farms, audit fees may vary depending on the system size and location. Please connect directly with your GVE to get an exact quote.
Document Upload
Once the GVE approves your application, they’ll reach out via email and provide you with a Contract Agreement. Review, sign, and upload the signed copy directly in the Audit Hub to proceed.
This contract formalizes your participation in the Glow Ecosystem and allows the audit process to officially begin.
Choose an Infrastructure Project
You will be prompted to select from one of the eligible infrastructure projects your solar farm will be part of. Projects are region-based, and by choosing one, you’ll only be competing with other farms in the same geographical area.
Each project may apply different reward criteria. For example:
- One region might prioritize total energy production
- Another might reward farms that provide reliable power to critical infrastructure like hospitals
Choosing the right project ensures your farm is evaluated fairly and aligned with regional energy goals.
Pre-Install Photo Scheduling
Before any solar panels are installed, the GVE needs to capture "before" photos of your property. These are a required part of the audit and help confirm the system is brand new.
To schedule this, simply share the expected installation date of your panels. The GVE will coordinate a drone visit ahead of that date to take the necessary shots.
Within two weeks of signing the contract, a certified drone operator will visit your property to take pre-installation photos. These images serve as proof that no panels were installed prior to enrollment. You don’t need to be on-site; photos are captured externally using drone technology, with no disruption to your schedule.
Installation Process
While the exact process may vary slightly depending on your local regulations, here’s a general overview of what to expect during installation:
1. System Design: Your installer will create a detailed plan set that includes the layout of your solar panels and the total system size.
2. Permit Application: The plan set is submitted to your local building department for permitting approval.
3. Installation: Once permits are secured, the installer mounts the panels and connects the system to your main electrical panel.
4. Inspection: After installation, an inspection is scheduled with your local authority to ensure everything is up to code.
5. Permission to Operate (PTO): The installer submits the required documents to your utility or jurisdiction to obtain PTO. Once approved, your system can be officially activated and start generating power.
After-Installation Process
Once your solar farm is up and running — either after receiving Permission to Operate (PTO) or once it’s connected to the grid and generating electricity — the GVE will schedule a follow-up visit within two weeks. You’ll be notified of the date, but no action or preparation is required on your end.
During this visit, the GVE will bring all necessary equipment to complete two key tasks:
After-Installation Photos
A certified drone operator captures detailed aerial images of your installed panels. These photos are used to:
- Confirm the number of panels
- Verify their placement
- Cross-check with your original system design and audit documents
This ensures the final Protocol Deposit is calculated correctly.
Monitoring Box Installation
The Glow Monitoring Box is installed alongside your existing solar equipment. Once connected, it’s assigned a unique Short ID, which is used to track the farm’s ongoing performance and ensure compliance over time.
Reward Split
As a solar farm owner, you're eligible to earn GLW rewards. If you elect to make your own Protocol Deposit instead of listing on the Mining Marketplace, you are also eligible to receive the Protocol Deposit rewards.
You have flexibility to decide how these rewards are distributed. You can distribute the rewards in different amounts to different wallets. This setup is managed directly in the Hub by entering your wallet addresses and specifying the amounts for each one.
Property Documents
As part of the audit, the GVE will collect and review key documents to validate the completion of your project. These may include:
- Mortgage statement or property deed to confirm ownership
- Two recent utility bills
- Permit (if applicable)
- Inspection report (if applicable)
- Permission to Operate (PTO) (if applicable)
The exact set of documents can vary by project, but the Glow Hub and your assigned GVE will guide you step by step to ensure you know exactly what’s required and how to provide it.
List on the Mining Marketplace
Once your solar farm passes the Glow Audit, the standard next step is to list it on the Mining Marketplace. This is the main path most farms take to begin earning rewards.
Every farm that joins Glow is required to make a Protocol Deposit — an upfront commitment sized to your system’s installed capacity and expected energy production. The deposit acts as a guarantee that the farm will generate a competitive quantity of carbon credits.
Because it reflects the full financial value of your system over its lifetime, the Protocol Deposit can be substantial, especially for larger farms. It can be made in USDG, GLW, or GCTL.
On the Mining Marketplace, you don’t need to cover this deposit yourself. Instead, other participants in the ecosystem can make the Protocol Deposit for your farm. In exchange, they receive a share of your farm’s weekly GLW rewards.
How It Works
- Each week, 175,000 GLW is distributed across all infrastructure projects based on GCTL staking votes.
- Within your chosen project pool, your share of rewards is proportional to the size of your deposit.
- Once your audit is approved by the GVE, your farm appears on the Marketplace for participants to review.
- Participants who choose to cover your deposit receive an agreed percentage of your GLW token rewards each week.
Important: Once listed, your farm cannot be unlisted until the Protocol Deposit has been made.
Pay the Protocol Deposit
While the marketplace is the default path, farms also have the option to make their own Protocol Deposit directly. If you choose this route:
- You receive 100% of the GLW rewards
- You also earn the Protocol Deposit rewards, which are paid back based on your farm’s expected carbon credit production
This option is best suited for farms with the capital to cover their deposit upfront and who want to maximize their share of rewards.
Farms only compete for GLW token rewards against others that paid with the same asset. Choose the payment token that aligns best with your treasury strategy.