Decentralizing Energy: Grid Disruption & Tokenization via DePIN | Jemma Green, Powerledger (#63)
September 18, 2025 | 44:48 | Episode 63
In episode #63 of DePINed, host Tom Trowbridge is joined by Dr. Jemma Green, co-founder of Powerledger, to explore how DePIN is accelerating one of the most vital global transitions: the shift to decentralized, resilient, and renewables-driven energy grids.
With a PhD in energy markets and a background in investment banking, Jemma brings a uniquely pragmatic lens to the intersection of policy, tech, and economics. Powerledger is one of the most mature DePIN projects operating in the energy space, with deployments across 10+ countries, including India, Australia, and the U.S.
Why Energy Needs DePIN
Traditional grids are centralized, fragile, and inefficient — designed for a world where power flows one way: from plant to home. But the rise of solar, batteries, EVs, and smart meters means millions of homes and businesses are now both consumers and producers of energy.
Powerledger’s thesis? These assets need a decentralized coordination layer — one that enables peer-to-peer trading, grid optimization, and real-time pricing, all without relying on legacy infrastructure.
This is DePIN for electrons.
What Powerledger Builds
Powerledger is an energy trading platform that connects distributed energy assets using blockchain. The stack includes:
TraceX: for certifying renewable energy provenance and carbon credentials
P2P Trading Layer: enabling participants to trade surplus energy within microgrids or communities
Dynamic Market Pricing: built to reflect real-time grid conditions and incentivize load balancing
DePIN provides a critical infrastructure layer — allowing nodes to validate trades, synchronize demand, and optimize energy distribution, all with verifiability, transparency, and speed.
Real-World Impact
Powerledger isn’t theory. It’s already live.
In India, Powerledger helps cities like Uttar Pradesh trade surplus solar energy across apartment complexes.
In Australia, their platform enables communities to operate independently from the national grid for extended periods.
In the U.S., Powerledger is used to track and verify renewable energy certificates (RECs) in real time.
The result: cheaper electricity, stronger grids, and energy autonomy.
DePIN in the Age of Electrification
What excites Jemma is an aligning incentives. Grid operators, users, and governments all want reliability, transparency, and decarbonization. DePIN makes these goals economically rational.
With tokenized incentives, verifiable data, and peer-to-peer infrastructure, Powerledger is turning energy systems from top-down hierarchies into bottom-up networks.
As Jemma says: “We don’t just need more clean energy — we need smarter, more distributed ways to manage it.”
About DePINed Podcast
DePINed is a podcast exploring the frontier of decentralized physical infrastructure, hosted by Tom Trowbridge, co-founder of Fluence. Each episode features in-depth conversations with founders, builders, and investors who are shaping the future of real-world Web3 networks.
️ Want to be a guest? Fill out the form here
Catch 50+ episodes featuring top DePIN founders and trailblazing protocols on:
