We're excited to share a big milestone: EarthSpark is open-sourcing the SparkMeter tech stack, giving customers more choice and accelerating improvements driven by minigrid operators themselves.
The goal is to enhance customer resilience by removing a single-point-of-failure risk in the sector. EarthSpark will keep delivering and improving the SparkMeter service line, while also building a secure, sustainable open-source option for the industry. This means grid operators get more control over their systems, and everyone gains more visibility into metering and the chance to manage their own assets or contribute to the open-source project. When EarthSpark took over SparkMeter Inc.'s emerging-market metering operations in September 2025, there was real concern that SparkMeter's closure could cause blackouts for minigrids serving over a million people. EarthSpark stepped in to prevent that and chart a sustainable path forward. Since then, we've kept legacy operations running while steadily improving ThunderCloud, the sector's most widely-used smart metering software. Now, in consultation with many of our customers and sector partners, we've published ThunderCloud 2.0 (TC2.0) under an open-source license. Alongside TC2.0, we are making available SparkNet-HTTP, which enables direct communication with SparkMeter meters independent of the broader SparkMeter solution. We're thrilled to take this step, and we'd love to hear from you. Questions, suggestions, or encouragement are all welcome! Overview of Releases ThunderCloud 2.0 has been released as an open source project. In its current form, it is not an immediate “plug-and-pay” replacement for the existing platform. Instead, it serves as a foundation that will be openly developed in collaboration with the broader user community with support from additional technical stakeholders. It is, nevertheless, an exciting path forward for building out the open platform. SparkNet-HTTP is a communications tool that enables direct communication with SparkMeter meters. This is a critical part of our response to customer and stakeholder feedback. By making SparkNet-HTTP available, existing customers will have the ability to communicate directly with their meters, if they choose, without being constrained by the SparkMeter solution itself. While ThunderCloud 2.0 uses SparkNet-HTTP natively, operators will also be able to use SparkNet-HTTP outside of ThunderCloud 2.0 should they wish. This removes the high-stress reality of a ‘single point of failure’ for any operating system. How do I access the release? You can find consolidated links to our FAQs, discussion channels, and the GitHub repository at https://www.sparkmeter.io/open-source.html Choice and Continuity As we make progress with this open source chapter and with the understanding that different operators have different operational capacities, we want to assure our customers that EarthSpark remains committed to maintaining, improving, and expanding our commercial operations, and our customers have options.
For customers who wish to have direct control over their meters, outside of the EarthSpark hosting environment, the encryption keys that ensure the security of your assets will be made available. Encryption keys should be treated with utmost care since accidental or malicious release of encryption keys could lead to irreparably malfunctioning meters. Should you wish to maintain your own keys or deposit them into an escrow account, we will work with you to ensure the secure transfer of the keys to the right owner once requested. There are three options for Encryption key management:
We see these actions as foundational steps toward greater collaboration and a stronger shared future for the ecosystem. We are committed to making the path forward an open and collaborative one, and we want your input as we approach the release. Thank you for your patience, engagement, and partnership. We're looking forward to taking this next step together. We welcome your feedback, concerns or suggestions as we continue this work.
0 Comments
EarthSpark has announced the open-sourcing of Thundercloud 2.0. What does that mean for current EarthSpark Meter Ops customers using the SparkMeter metering system and other mini-grid operators evaluating what metering system to procure for future grids?
For most customers, the short answer is: nothing changes right now. The EarthSpark team will continue supporting new and existing customers, and no action is needed on your part. You do now have more options, as we outline below. Background : EarthSpark International is a non-profit organization that took over operations of SparkMeter Inc.’s energy access metering operations in September 2025. At the time, there was a looming and valid fear that SparkMeter’s closing would lead to massive blackouts in minigrid utilities around the world. EarthSpark stepped in to prevent that from happening and to build a viable path forward for smart metering in the minigrid sector. EarthSpark has kept the legacy SparkMeter operations online while also making tangible improvements. As part of that work, the EarthSpark team has been updating and improving the flagship ThunderCloud smart metering software, which is the most widely-adopted smart metering software in the sector. To best meet customer needs and invite collaboration, EarthSpark is releasing a pre-production version of ThunderCloud 2.0 under an open source license. Below are some anticipated frequently asked questions (FAQs) on the release: Does this affect the system running my meters today? No. SparkMeter basestations in the field today run Thundercloud 1.x, and they keep running exactly as they do now. Open-sourcing doesn't change, interrupt, or require anything from your current deployment. What we're open-sourcing is Thundercloud 2.0, the next generation of the platform. What is Thundercloud 2.0? Thundercloud 1.x was built against a number of internal SparkMeter systems and older build tools that are now end-of-life, which makes it hard to maintain or install outside our own environment. Thundercloud 2.0 modernizes that foundation with updated dependencies, a modern build pipeline, and open replacements for the internal pieces. The result is a clean, working system to build the future of Thundercloud on, together. It's a work in progress. It isn't yet ready to deploy to existing basestations or to install on new hardware, but it's far enough along to develop in the open. What changes now that it's open source? We've been building Thundercloud 2.0 internally for months. Open-sourcing lets us keep doing that work in the open and build a community around it:
When will I be able to install Thundercloud 2.0? We're testing Thundercloud 2.0 alongside several new infrastructure components, working toward the point where it can be installed both as an upgrade to Thundercloud 1.x and on new hardware. The likely path:
What is a Thundercloud deployment? A Thundercloud deployment has two parts that work together:
What are my options for operating my SparkMeter metering system? You can mix and match who provides the basestation hardware and who runs the cloud. Some of the shapes that can take:
When does all of this happen? A lot of it depends on the community. EarthSpark will continue to support core team engineers. The more people who get involved (engineers building and testing code, customers filing issues and answering open questions, and community members helping organize and sustain the project), the sooner we reach a strong, stable release, and the better it will be when we get there. We'll get there either way. Together, we'll get there sooner. Version 1 of minigrid metering was closed. V2 is open. We’re thrilled to be working together with you to solve energy access. Thanks for all the good hard work you’re doing to expand access to electricity! What if I still have questions? You may always contact our team at [email protected] or through our other customer service channels. For questions on the open source project, a Dischord channel has been created for users (go here to chat with other grid operators using SparkMeter deployments) and for developers (go here to chat about coding and the open source software development project.) Anybody may submit a feature request here. [links forthcoming] All normal customer service requests about your specific deployment should still be routed through your usual customer service channels. For more information about the SparkMeter product line, please visit www.sparkmeter.io. In community, The EarthSpark Meter Ops team |
ArchivesCategories |
RSS Feed
EarthSpark Meter Ops offers grid-management solutions that enable utilities around the world to run profitable, efficient, and reliable systems.
|
SparkMeter is a technology product line of EarthSpark Meter Ops.
EarthSpark Meter Ops is an affiliate of EarthSpark International.
EarthSpark Meter Ops is an affiliate of EarthSpark International.
© EarthSpark Meter Ops. LLC 2026. All rights reserved.