Blockchain Papers

Sardar Mohazzam, Ayesha Ali, Saleem H. Ali

No abstract is available for this record.

Yu‐Chung Tsao, Thuy-Linh Vu

No abstract is available for this record.

Muhammad T. Afzal, Khalid Umer, Waqas Amin, Muhammad Naeem · 7 authors

This paper proposes an optimization model for community microgrid. The proposed scheme performs the scheduling of domestic appliances in a community microgrid using renewable energy resources. The objective of the scheme is to minimize the total operating cost in the whole community. The optimization problem is solved using the branch and bound algorithm. Blockchain (BC) technology is introduced for secure implementation of the proposed approach. Machine to machine interaction is facilitated using BC technology. The transaction information/ data is stored in the distributed shared ledger. The smart contract is used to automatically trigger the flow of electricity and the movement of funds once the necessary conditions are met.

Jian Ping, Sijie Chen, Zheng Yan, Haoran Wang · 6 authors

With the increasing electric vehicle (EV) integration, challenges arise in the operation of a distribution network in that charging numerous EVs at the same time may overload distribution facilities. The charging power should be distributed among the charging stations in such a way that both individual EV charging demands and security constraints are met. Meanwhile, there usually does not exist a coordinator over all EV charging stations. This paper proposes an EV charging coordination method by designing a charging power quota (permissible charging power of a charging station) trading platform on blockchain. After collecting the future charging demands from charging stations, the proposed platform distributes initial charging power quotas in an equitable and secure manner while considering facility ratings. Then, considering the elasticity of different charging stations, the platform allows EV charging stations to trade the initially-allocated charging power quota via a double auction. By matching the submitted offers and bids from charging stations, the optimal allocation of charging power quotas is realized. By designing corresponding smart contracts, a charging power quota allocation and trading platform is established based on the Ethereum blockchain, ensuring the transparency, trustfulness, and intelligence of the charging power quota trading. A case study based on an Ethereum private blockchain shows the fairness and efficiency of the proposed mechanism and the effectiveness of the method.

Jingpeng Yue, Zhijian Hu, Chendan Li, Amjad Anvari‐Moghaddam · 6 authors

Microgrid (MG) is an efficient platform to integrate distributed energy resources in distribution networks. The operation of MG is also expected to take advantage of emerging smart grid technologies to improve operation and robustness. Among these emerging technologies, blockchain technology provide a big potential to rule the energy transaction in an innovative way. In this paper, a physical architecture of the ecosystem with MGs is firstly presented. Moreover, as the main parts of the blockchain technology, the operation of distributed ledger and smart contracts are introduced in the transaction process. Considering dynamic pricing scheme in the process of energy transaction in the ecosystem, we model the energy transaction between MGs and distribution system operator (DSO) to decide the trading amount and price of the energy. The welfare maximization mathematical model is established accordingly, and the formulated dual problem will be used to find the shadow price of selling renewable energy to grid and real-time retailer price from DSO. Finally, with the deployment of distribution ledger, the energy transaction process can be fully recorded, and transaction execution can be achieved with the help of smart contracts. In light of the mentioned perspective, beside demonstrated benefit brought to both MGs and DSO, the energy transaction and management based on the blockchain will result in higher reliability and improved auditability in the ecosystem.

You haixia, Haochen Hua, Junwei Cao

A fast, reliable and intelligent energy transaction pattern between energy suppliers and consumers is expected to be established within the scope of energy Internet (EI). Corresponding to the transaction principle, a smart contract-based energy trading strategy is proposed in this paper. This paper focuses on shifting the demand of residential users to reduce the energy cost. Then, a demand response model is given. Finally, the simulation result demonstrates the validity of the proposed demand response strategy.

Larissa Pschetz, Kruakae Pothong, Chris Speed

Technologies such as blockchains, smart contracts and programmable batteries facilitate emerging models of energy distribution, trade and consumption, and generate a considerable number of opportunities for energy markets. However, these developments complicate relationships between stakeholders, disrupting traditional notions of value, control and ownership. Discussing these issues with the public is particularly challenging as energy consumption habits often obscure the competing values and interests that shape stakeholders' relationships. To make such difficult discussions more approachable and examine the missing relational aspect of autonomous energy systems, we combined the design of speculative hairdryers with performance and deliberation. This integrated method of inquiry makes visible the competing values and interests, eliciting people's wishes to negotiate these terms. We argue that the complexity of mediated energy distribution and its convoluted stakeholder relationships requires more sophisticated methods of inquiry to engage people in debates concerning distributed energy systems.

Yinan Li, Wentao Yang, Ping He, Chang Chen · 5 authors

No abstract is available for this record.

Shengmin Tan, Xu Wang, Chuanwen Jiang

Capable of aggregating multiple energy resources, the energy service company (ESCO) has been regarded as a promising alternative for improving power system flexibility and facilitate the consumption of renewable resources in the energy market. However, the issues have become significantly more serious related to the privacy and security of the data in consumption and trading. In this paper, we address the problem by proposing a privacy-preserving energy scheduling (PPES) model based on energy blockchain network. A Lagrangian relaxation method is applied to decompose the model into several individual optimal scheduling problems, and the individual scheduling problems are solved by consensus algorithm and smart contracts in energy blockchain network. The performance of the proposed model and method is evaluated with several case studies based on multiple energy nodes. Simulation results show the rationality and validity of the proposed method, and the model is conducive to the protection of environment and transparent scheduling of energy service companies (ESCOs). In addition, it can reflect the information of energy demand and supply to improve the privacy and security of data.

Michelle Lauer, Rupamathi Jaddivada, Marija Ilić

In this paper, we propose a secure system design for implementing the minimal-information exchange framework to efficiently provide services; the application of this concept is in the context of electricity services. The information being exchanged is dictated by the Dynamic Monitoring and Decision Systems (DyMonDS) platform, which enables optimal global solutions to be derived even in a largely distributed setting. This capability parallels the increasing number of smart Internet of Things (IoT) devices that allow for a responsive and flexible service. These advancements are aligned in the Secure Blockchain-Enabled DyMonDS design, where a secure communication protocol enables smart embedded devices to communicate with local compute nodes; these compute nodes are connected in a meshed blockchain network, providing information security, integrity, and robustness.

Zhiyi Li, Shay Bahramirad, Aleksi Paaso, Mingyu Yan · 5 authors

No abstract is available for this record.

Zixiao Xu, Dechang Yang, Weilin Li

With the development of the energy Internet and the integration of multi-type energy situations, it is of great significance to study the competition game of a multi-agent microgrid group system for its development. As an emerging distributed database technology, blockchain technology has great application potential in the field of energy trading. Firstly, blockchain technology is coupled with the microgrid group transaction, and the information flow transaction model of a microgrid group based on blockchain technology is established. Aiming at this complex multi-objective optimization problem, an improved ant colony optimization algorithm is proposed to solve the model. Finally, the competitive trading model and solving algorithm are simulated and analyzed. The relevant results show that the near global optimum price strategy of each time based on the proposed model can effectively balance the efficiency of each subject in the market. In addition, the model ensures that there is no high-income and low-cost phenomenon in the trading process, therefore the security and quality of the market are guaranteed.

M.C. Buth, Anna Wieczorek, G.P.J. Verbong

No abstract is available for this record.

Maria Luisa Di Silvestre, Pierluigi Gallo, Mariano Giuseppe Ippolito, Rossano Musca · 7 authors

The energy blockchain is a distributed Internet protocol for energy transactions between nodes of a power system. Recent applications of the energy blockchain in microgrids only consider the energy transactions between peers without considering the technical issues that can arise, especially when the system is islanded. One contribution of the paper is, thus, to depict a comprehensive framework of the technical and economic management of microgrids in the blockchain era, considering, for the first time, the provision of ancillary services and, in particular, of the voltage regulation service. When more PV nodes are operating in the grid, large reactive power flows may appear in the branches. In order to limit such flows, a reactive optimal power flow (R-OPF) is solved, setting the voltage at the PV buses as variables within prescribed limits. Each PV generator will thus contribute to voltage regulation, receiving a remuneration included in the transaction and certified by the blockchain technology. For showing how this system can work, a test microgrid, where some energy transactions take place, has been considered. For each transaction, the R-OPF assigns the reactive power to the PV buses. The R-OPF is solved by a glow-worm swarm optimizer. Finally, the paper proposes a method for remuneration of reactive power provision; this method, integrated into the blockchain, allows evaluating the contribution to voltage regulation and increases the transparency and cost traceability in the transactions. The application section shows the implementation of a Tendermint-based energy transaction platform integrating R-OPF and the earlier cited technical assessments.

Xiaodong Yang, Guofeng Wang, Haibo He, Junjie Lu · 5 authors

Blockchain technique, with the novelties of decentralization, smart contract, security and cooperative autonomy, is expected to play great effects on promoting the development of energy local networks (ELNs). This paper presents an automated demand response (ADR) framework for decentralized scheduling and secure peer-to-peer (P2P) trading among energy storage systems in ELNs. Different from most existing works that trade electricity over long distances and through complex meshes, this proposed work performs decentralized and automated demand response through energy sharing of P2P executors. We explore for the first time the benefits of a promising blockchain to conduct the overall ADR framework and increase the P2P trading security. To achieve decentralized scheduling without relying on a central entity, a price-incentive noncooperative game theoretic model is introduced to produce equilibrium solutions for energy storage systems. Moreover, we develop a schedulable ability evaluation system to match trading pairs involving buying and selling nodes. On this basis, a state-machine-driven smart contract mechanism is built to realize P2P trading without reliance on a trusted third party. To illustrate the implementation details of the ADR method, a distributed algorithm is designed. Case studies are provided to verify the effectiveness of the proposed method.

Morteza Dabbaghjamanesh, Boyu Wang, Shahab Mehraeen, Jie Zhang · 5 authors

This paper proposes a novel framework for privacy and security enhancement of power trading in the networked microgrids (MGs) based on the blockchain-enabled Internet of Things (IoT) approach. Utilizing the blockchain-enabled IoT technology in the power trading of the network MGs can potentially lead to some significant advantages such as fewer system risks, mitigate financial fraud, and less the operational cost. A newly stochastic framework based on the unscented transform (UT) is employed to model the uncertainties of renewable energy resources and hourly load demand. Consequently, the proposed framework is tested on the network MG containing residential MG (as a non-crucial load), commercial MG (as an intermediate level load), and hospital MG (as a crucial load), to validate the effectiveness and high performance of the proposed technique.

Chao Liu, Kok Keong Chai, Xiaoshuai Zhang, Yue Chen

The massive adoption of Electric Vehicles (EVs) requires the grid system to coordinate with a large number of energy transactions, where the current grid network poses vulnerability against the excessive power loads and attacks. The difficulty of an efficient charging/discharging control mechanism lies on the randomness of future events and scalability of the transaction platform. In this paper, a Proof-of-Benefit consensus mechanism with Online benefit generating (ONPoB) algorithm is proposed on the blockchain platform to handle the EV charging/discharging loads to flatten the overall power load fluctuation. It is demonstrated that all EVs can be charged and achieves a best-known competitive ratio of 2.39. The ONPoB consensus mechanism is approved to better accommodate the EV scenario compared with other mechanisms. And the ONPoB algorithm is able to substantially reduce the Power Fluctuation Level (PFL) in comparison with popular scheduling algorithms.

Benedikt Kirpes, Esther Mengelkamp, Georg Schaal, Christof Weinhardt

Abstract In this paper, we propose a model-based system architecture for an interoperable blockchain-based local energy market for prosumers in a residential microgrid setting. Based on the Smart Grid Architecture Model our analysis deduced 21 organizational, informational, technical and blockchain requirements for a local energy market and its underlying information system. These are evaluated in the Landau Microgrid case study. We derive, that a clear value proposition for the key stakeholders, standardization of data exchange and communication, and a suitable physical implementation are the major challenges.

Brandon R. Sutherland

No abstract is available for this record.

Pierluigi Siano, Giuseppe De Marco, Alejandro Rolán, Vincenzo Loia

The unpredictability and intermittency introduced by Renewable Energy Sources (RESs) in power systems may lead to unforeseen peaks of energy production, which might differ from energy demand. To manage these mismatches, a proper communication between prosumers (i.e., users with RESs that can either inject or absorb energy) and active users (i.e., users that agree to have their loads changed according to the system needs) is required. To achieve this goal, the centralized approach used in traditional power systems is no longer possible because both prosumers and active users would like to take part in energy transactions, and a decentralized approach based on transactive energy systems (TESs) and Peer-to-Peer (P2P) energy transactions should be adopted. In this context, the Distributed Ledger Technology (DLT), based on the blockchain concept arises as the most promising solution to enable smart contracts between prosumers and active users, which are safely guarded in blocks with cryptographic hashes. The aim of this paper is to provide a review about the deployment of decentralized TESs and to propose and discuss a transactive management infrastructure. In this context, the concept of Proof of Energy is proposed as a novel consensus protocol for P2P energy exchanges managed by DLT. An application of the proposed infrastructure considering a Virtual Power Plant (VPP) aggregator and residential prosumers endowed with a new transactive controller to manage the electrical storage system is discussed.

Ivo Gonçalves, Álvaro Gomes, Carlos Henggeler Antunes

No abstract is available for this record.

Michel Zadé, Jonas Myklebost, Peter Tzscheutschler, Ulrich Wagner

\begin{abstract} When an author under the pseudonym Satoshi Nakamoto published the paper `Bitcoin: A Peer-to-Peer Electronic Cash System' in 2008, the first cryptocurrency using the new blockchain technology was introduced. Over the last decade, more than 1000 different cryptocurrencies, such as Ethereum, Ripple, and Litecoin were developed and Bitcoin's currency had almost reached an equivalent value of \SI{20000}{\$\per BTC}. After recognizing the disrupting momentum that the blockchain technology generated, scientists started to develop blockchain use cases for the energy sector. However, the scientific literature so far offers only rough and incomplete estimations when questions about the current and future energy consumption of the Bitcoin network are raised. This paper introduces a new scenario model to estimate the mining power demand of the Bitcoin and Ethereum network. Six scenarios are developed on the basis of mining hardware efficiency and network parameter data. The results show that an increase of the mining hardware efficiency will only have a limited impact on the overall power demand of blockchain networks. Furthermore, the current power demand of the Ethereum network is in the range from \SIrange{0.6}{3}{\giga\watt} and therefore, is similar to the one of Bitcoin. In case of linear growth of the block difficulty and sigmoidal increase of the hardware efficiency until the year of 2025, the mining power demand for the Bitcoin blockchain will be approximately \SI{3}{\giga\watt}. Furthermore, the model and the scenarios are adaptable to other cryptocurrencies that use the proof-of-work consensus algorithm to create scenarios for their future power demand.

Can Dang, Jiangfeng Zhang, C.P. Kwong, Li Li

Blockchain is the key technology of Bitcoin and other cryptocurrencies, and it is one of the most exciting technologies changing the world as of late. Targeting at big industrial energy users, this paper first presents a new market structure (i.e., transaction rules) under existing blockchain-based electricity transaction platforms to cover popular types of markets such as contract, day-ahead, adjustment and balancing markets; and then focuses on the optimal load management problem for a particular industrial user. The proof-of-work cost from blockchain is also modeled. A key feature of this load management problem is that the user has direct control on its own load. The obtained load control model is much more accurate than existing approaches in which system operators or demand aggregators cannot control load directly and have to rely on inaccurate estimations. As a case study, the pumping load of a water supply plant is investigated to illustrate how the demand load is managed under this blockchain-based market. From the case study, it is found that 18.9% of total cost can be saved under this new market structure.

Amanda Ahl, Masaru Yarime, Kenji Tanaka, Daishi Sagawa

No abstract is available for this record.