# The Provider side To become an electricity provider, an individual or business must invest in solar energy infrastructure, including solar panels, batteries, and inverters. The solar panels are typically installed on rooftops, as this provides an ideal location for maximum exposure to capture sunlight and convert it into electricity, which is then stored in batteries for use during periods of low sunlight. The inverters convert the direct current (DC) electricity from the panels and batteries into alternating current (AC) electricity that can be used to power electrical devices.

Solar installation Diagram

{% hint style="warning" %} **Compliance and Safety:** Providers will need to evaluate the suitability of the roof, ensuring it can support the weight of the solar panels and must adhere to relevant regulations and safety standards in their region when installing solar equipment. This may involve obtaining permits and ensuring compliance with local building codes and electrical regulations to ensure the safety and reliability of the system. {% endhint %} Alongside the solar equipment, providers need to install M3ter device. These specialized devices measure the electricity generated by the solar panels and the electricity consumed by an offtaker. These device are designed specifically to bridge the gap between distributed energy resources (such as rooftop solar assets) and the web3.0 economy. its data is crucial for accurate tracking, verification, and billing of the energy transactions within the protocol. Learn more about current M3ters: [Maxwell](https://raw.githubusercontent.com/WhyNotSwitch/Maxwell-Docs/master/SPBrochure_06-05-2023.pdf).

the Maxwell device (https://www.whynotswitch.com/)

Once the solar infrastructure and M3tering meters are installed, providers need to ensure regular maintenance and monitoring of the system's performance. This includes periodic checks to ensure that there are no obstructions blocking sunlight, identify and resolve any technical issues, and ensuring optimal energy production and delivery. With the solar infrastructure set up and operational, the provider can then participate in the M3tering Protocol. The protocol facilitates the interaction between providers and offtakers, enabling the secure exchange of clean energy for pre-paid stablecoins, and rewarding providers. ## Understanding the offtaker The offtaker, in the context of M3tering, is simply the consumer who buys clean electricity from providers on the platform using xDAI stablecoins. Dive deeper into the offtaker experience and see how energy consumers in underserved communities participate in the M3tering Protocol. --- # Agent Instructions: Querying This Documentation If you need additional information that is not directly available in this page, you can query the documentation dynamically by asking a question. Perform an HTTP GET request on the current page URL with the `ask` query parameter: ``` GET https://docs.m3ter.ing/protocol-mechanics/the-provider-side.md?ask= ``` The question should be specific, self-contained, and written in natural language. The response will contain a direct answer to the question and relevant excerpts and sources from the documentation. Use this mechanism when the answer is not explicitly present in the current page, you need clarification or additional context, or you want to retrieve related documentation sections.