The change in the energy landscape due to the spread of distributed generation resources is leading to the consideration of new forms of decentralized and local markets. Tools such as blockchain and smart contracts present interesting characteristics for the creation of market platforms of this type. Blockchains are shared, distributed data structures or ledgers that can securely store digital transactions without using a central authority. It is also relevant that blockchains enable the automation and execution of smart contracts in peer-to-peer (P2P) networks. Finally, the typical blockchain properties of decentralization, transparency, reliability and accountability are essential for the development of new local energy markets.
This document analyzes the main requirements needed for new market scenarios and the challenges to their implementation. Different types of market logics are thoroughly explored and some available solutions based on blockchain used for generic trading, especially in the financial sector, are described to evaluate their characteristics and ability to satisfy the needs of the energy sector.
Subsequently, the demonstration market platform created is described, from the architectural choices to the implementation, based on Hyperledger Besu and specific agents for the trading of energy tokens via smart contracts. The operation of the
platform is shown through some explanatory examples.
Finally, the IBSI (Italian Blockchain Services Infrastructure) project, a platform for the development of use cases of public interest, including local energy markets, is introduced.