Blockchain-based Solar Electricity Exchange: Conceptual Architecture and Laboratory Setup

Abstract

Over the past decade, high penetration of rooftop solar photovoltaics (PV) has been observed in many countries. The availability of rooftop solar PV at customer premises has transformed a house into an energy prosumer that can both consume and export electricity. With proper regulations in place, homeowners can become a market participant who can buy and sell excess solar electricity in a peer-to-peer (P2P) trading environment. With the emerging blockchain technology, it will be possible to securely keep track of such solar electricity exchange without a third party oversight. The objective of this paper is to discuss the conceptual architecture of the blockchain-based platform for exchange of solar electricity in a neighborhood. Several open-source blockchain platforms are reviewed, including Hyperledger, Ethereum and Corda. Experiments developed on one of the well-known open-source blockchain platforms are discussed that describe how a P2P exchange of solar electricity can be set up in a laboratory environment.