Blockchain-based self-consumption optimisation and energy trading in renewable energy communities

Abstract

Energy communities will be an essential element of the future energy system. Especially renewable energy communities are gaining high attention in many European countries and their implementation, characteristics and use cases are elaborated in many research and development activities all around the world. Within the Austrian research project Blockchain Grid, a blockchain-based renewable energy community is implemented and field-tested in Heimschuh, Styria. It supports different technical applications like self-consumption optimisation and peer-to-peer energy trading for customers and a novel approach for grid capacity management supporting distribution system operators. These use cases have been implemented and validated in simulative studies showing promising potential for total energy costs for energy community members.