Design Implementation And Evaluation Of A Blockchain Based Microgrid Platform

In order to meet global emissions targets, Renewable Energy Sources (RES) will have to be exploited. The subsequent decentralisation of the electrical grid, caused in large parts by residential rooftop Photovoltaic (PV) systems, in turn presents a challenge to existing infrastructure, markets, and business models. Households which only consumed electric energy can now invest into a private PV system and produce their own electricity, thus becoming prosumers. During the day prosumers can generate more electric energy than they consume, requiring them to feed the extra energy back into the grid. The concept of Local Energy Markets (LEMs) encompasses the peer-to-peer (P2P) exchange of energy between prosumers and neighbouring consumers and represents a novel remuneration model for investors in residential PV. The progressing roll-out of smart meters and the subsequent availability of high-frequent energy data holds the opportunity to realise new control schemes and business models for the smart grid. However, billing is still based on regular readouts, which are often done by hand, and data available from deployed smart meters is commonly restrictive, and suffers from infrequent collection, reduced sampling intervals, and limited value range. Blockchain-technology has gained popularity as the underpinning mechanism that has enabled the pseudonymous and decentralised electronic cash system Bitcoin. The technology has spurred the development of a whole ecosystem of blockchain platforms, which, as of August 2019, hold a market capitalisation over USD 200 billion in total. Blockchain-technology enables untrusted or semi-trusted parties to engage in transactions carrying financial value and arbitrary data, which can replace mediating third parties. Combining LEMs and blockchain-technology allows prosumers and consumers to trade energy directly without having to go through the authority of a utility company. The exchange of local energy based.

Energy systems are undergoing rapid changes to adapt to both increasing demand and growing penetration of embedded renewable generation. The Smart Grid, which integrates information and communication technologies into the grid infrastructure, is one possible solution to both needs. However, if the number of residential prosumers grows to a significant fraction of the total customer base, the current, centralized systems for managing energy markets and operations will be insufficient. New, distributed systems will be needed instead. Blockchains, which are a peer-to-peer (P2P) decentralized ledger technology, and smart contracts built upon them, appear to be a promising approach to designing these systems. This is a fairly new area of investigation, and the literature to date is largely fragmented. Hence, in the first part of this thesis, we conduct a systematic review of distributed energy management through blockchain technology, focusing on smart contract design and development. We categorize the application domains into four main fields, including market operations, ancillary services, auditing and monitoring, and cybersecurity. We determined that data storage and blockchain interoperability are cross-cutting concerns in all of these areas, and we examined solutions for them. Renewable energy sources in the energy system produce power intermittently, depending on weather conditions. This raises new challenges in the management and operation of electricity system, as intermittency negatively impacts the existing control measures used to ensure safe operation and stability. Furthermore, the future energy market may well include tens or hundreds of thousands of individual actors in the markets that will sell power from renewable and micro-generation. All these complexities and challenges in the grid are putting increasing pressure on the monitoring and control systems, in particular voltage stability control. Hence, decentralized voltage stability algorithms are receiving considerable attention. This class of algorithm principally operates on localized voltage measurements but still ensures system-level stability. Several studies have used blockchains to provide ancillary services by tracking and managing energy distribution or organizing some distributed energy resources. However, the performance of blockchain-based systems in real-time grid monitoring and control has never been empirically tested. In the second part of this thesis, we propose implementing a decentralized voltage stability algorithm, using blockchain-based smart contracts, as a testbed for evaluating the performance of blockchains in real-time control. We furthermore investigate sharding mechanisms as a means of improving the system's scalability with fixed computing resources. We implement our models as a proof-of-concept prototype system using Hyperledger Fabric as our blockchain platform, the Matpower library in MATLAB as our power system simulator, and Hyperledger Caliper as our performance evaluation tool. We found that sharding does indeed lead to a substantial improvement in system scalability for this domain, measured by both transaction success rates and transaction latency.

Microgrid Methodologies and Applications provides step-by-guide guidance on the implementation of microgrids projects that is informed by current scientific principles, emergent technologies such as modern power electronic interfaces, energy storage systems, multi-vector energy systems, and a close study of recent case studies. Addressing the full end-to-end microgrid project lifecycle, the work encompasses planning, design, operation, control, trading and evaluation, with a significant focus on novel business model, regulation and policy considerations. The book explains to readers how they can operationalize robust microgrids which account for engineering reality, uncertainties, and operating constraints. It delivers precise and rigorous real case studies for project managers, designers and policy and decision-makers. The methodologies section provides step-by-step guidance on implementing projects for postgraduate students, researchers and practitioners, while the applications section provides an array of demonstrative ‘case studies which exemplify the use of optimal methods and leading-edge technologies. Provides step-by-step guidance on the design, operation, control, trading and evaluation of microgrid projects Demystifies real-world project experience through the evaluation of successful case studies, novel data analysis and comprehensive evaluation rather than cumbersome mathematical formulations Combines theoretical and practical insights, serving to bridge gaps between theory and engineering operations, control and decision-making Reviews state-of-the-art topics including business models, trading strategies, pricing, regulatory standards and policy recommendations poised to profoundly affect local energy transitions and utilization of microgrids

Microgrids provide opportunities to develop new electrical networks targeted for the needs of communities. The fourth industrial revolution is associated with the global trend toward decentralizing energy grids. Within this context, microgrids are seen as a solution to how renewable electricity can be supplied to local areas. The Fundamentals of Microgrids: Development and Implementation provides an in-depth examination of microgrid energy sources, applications, technologies, and policies. This book considers the fundamental configurations and applications for microgrids and examines their use as a means of meeting international sustainability goals. It focuses on questions and issues associated with microgrid topologies, development, implementation and regulatory issues. Distributed energy resources are defined, stand-a-lone generation systems are described and examples of typical microgrid configurations are provided. The key components of developing a business model for microgrid development are also considered. Features: Describes what microgrids are and details the basics of how they work while considering benefits of microgrids and their disadvantages. Provides answers to the fundamental questions energy managers and other professionals want to know about the basics of microgrids. Details the applications for microgrids and demystifies the types of microgrid architectures that are successful. Includes real-world examples of functioning microgrids which provide models for the development of microgrids in the future. Discusses the key considerations that must be addressed to develop a business case for microgrid development.

Blockchain-Based Smart Grids presents emerging applications of blockchain in electrical system and looks to future developments in the use of blockchain technology in the energy market. Rapid growth of renewable energy resources in power systems and significant developments in the telecommunication systems has resulted in new market designs being employed to cover unpredictable and distributed generation of electricity. This book considers the marriage of blockchain and grid modernization, and discusses the transaction shifts in smart grids, from centralized to peer-to-peer structures. In addition, it addresses the effective application of these structures to speed up processes, resulting in more flexible electricity systems. Aimed at moving towards blockchain-based smart grids with renewable applications, this book is useful to researchers and practitioners in all sectors of smart grids, including renewable energy providers, manufacturers and professionals involved in electricity generation from renewable sources, grid modernization and smart grid applications. Considers the current challenges facing smart grids and presents solutions on how blockchain technology could counter these issues Incorporates detailed applications of blockchain in smart grids based on dynamic research and developments Includes models, algorithms, and frameworks to practically demonstrate the uses of blockchain technology Written by a global group of authors for worldwide coverage

Local Electricity Markets introduces the fundamental characteristics, needs, and constraints shaping the design and implementation of local electricity markets. It addresses current proposed local market models and lessons from their limited practical implementation. The work discusses relevant decision and informatics tools considered important in the implementation of local electricity markets. It also includes a review on management and trading platforms, including commercially available tools. Aspects of local electricity market infrastructure are identified and discussed, including physical and software infrastructure. It discusses the current regulatory frameworks available for local electricity market development internationally. The work concludes with a discussion of barriers and opportunities for local electricity markets in the future. Delineates key components shaping the design and implementation of local electricity market structure Provides a coherent view on the enabling infrastructures and technologies that underpin local market expansion Explores the current regulatory environment for local electricity markets drawn from a global panel of contributors Exposes future paths toward widespread implementation of local electricity markets using an empirical review of barriers and opportunities Reviews relevant local electricity market case studies, pilots and demonstrators already deployed and under implementation

This book provides a comprehensive overview on the latest developments in the control, operation, and protection of microgrids. It provides readers with a solid approach to analyzing and understanding the salient features of modern control and operation management techniques applied to these systems, and presents practical methods with examples and case studies from actual and modeled microgrids. The book also discusses emerging concepts, key drivers and new players in microgrids, and local energy markets while addressing various aspects from day-ahead scheduling to real-time testing of microgrids. The book will be a valuable resource for researchers who are focused on control concepts, AC, DC, and AC/DC microgrids, as well as those working in the related areas of energy engineering, operations research and its applications to energy systems. Presents modern operation, control and protection techniques with applications to real world and emulated microgrids; Discusses emerging concepts, key drivers and new players in microgrids and local energy markets; Addresses various aspects from day-ahead scheduling to real-time testing of microgrids.

This book constitutes the proceedings of the Third International Conference on Smart Grid and Innovative Frontiers in Telecommunications, SmartGIFT, held in Auckland, New Zealand, in April 2018. The 28 revised full papers presented were carefully reviewed and selected from 44 submissions. They focus on smart grid as the next generation of electrical grid, which will enable the smart integration of conventional, renewable and distributed power generation, energy storage, transmission and distribution, and demand management. The benefits of smart grid include enhanced reliability and resilience, higher intelligence and optimized control, decentralized operation, higher operational efficiency, more efficient demand management, and better power quality.

Smart systems when connected to artificial intelligence (AI) are still closely associated with some popular misconceptions that cause the general public to either have unrealistic fears about AI or to expect too much about how it will change our workplace and life in general. It is important to show that such fears are unfounded, and that new trends, technologies, and smart systems will be able to improve the way we live, benefiting society without replacing humans in their core activities. Smart Systems Design, Applications, and Challenges provides emerging research that presents state-of-the-art technologies and available systems in the domains of smart systems and AI and explains solutions from an augmented intelligence perspective, showing that these technologies can be used to benefit, instead of replace, humans by augmenting the information and actions of their daily lives. The book addresses all smart systems that incorporate functions of sensing, actuation, and control in order to describe and analyze a situation and make decisions based on the available data in a predictive or adaptive manner. Highlighting a broad range of topics such as business intelligence, cloud computing, and autonomous vehicles, this book is ideally designed for engineers, investigators, IT professionals, researchers, developers, data analysts, professors, and students.

Microgrids are poised to play a big role in the electricity ecosystem of the future—with decarbonization, digitalization, decentralization, and non-wires solutions being key attributes. This handbook serves as a guide to evaluate the feasibility of microgrid systems in enhancing power supply quality and connectivity. It includes information about on-grid microgrids for urban and industrial applications, prevailing business models, and emerging trends that could shape the future of this sector.