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Special Issue "Blockchain, IoT and Smart Grids Challenges for Energy"

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A special issue of Energies (ISSN 1996-1073). This special issue belongs to the section "A1: Smart Grids and Microgrids".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 31 May 2023 | Viewed by 7838

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Dr. Joao Ferreira

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Guest Editor

School of Technology and Architecture (ISTA), Information Sciences, Technologies and Architecture Research Center (ISTAR-IUL), ISCTE—University Institute of Lisbon, Lisbon, Portugal
Interests: electric vehicle; data science; iot; blockchain; artificial intelligence; smart grids
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Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

New challenges in energy arise with the introduction of smart grids, blockchain and IoT technology to manage energy transactions. Due to the introduction of renewable energy and electric vehicle charging, there is a need for flexibility in consumption, and intelligent systems play an important role. The open energy market and new market players due to micro-generation create new problems that must be solved. The amount of data associated with energy transactions is growing, alongside the associated problems of security concerns for the whole system and for individual users (single point of failure, data privacy, security, robustness, etc.). The topics of interest for this Special Issue include but are not limited to:

Edge and fog computing for smart grids;
Advanced control and optimization algorithms for smart grids;
Demand-side management and uncertainty management of energy systems;
Distribution management systems/SCADA. Resilience and cascading effect;
Distributed control technology;
Innovative forecasting methods for smart grid systems;
Smart devices and intelligent grid participants for energy management;
Integration of DER devices, storage, and intelligent loads;
DER, intelligent buildings, smart homes, storage, charging devices;
IoT and data analytics for energy;
Distributed control technology;
Innovative forecasting methods for smart grid systems;
Smart devices and intelligent grid participants for energy management;
Integration of DER devices, storage, and intelligent loads;
DER, intelligent buildings, smart homes, storage, charging devices;
Blockchain-based security, privacy, and trust for energy systems;
Blockchain architectures, protocols, theories, and algorithms for energy systems;
Blockchain-enabled energy systems techniques;
Blockchain standardization for energy systems;
Blockchain tools, simulators, and test-beds for energy systems;
Distributed ledger technologies for energy systems;
Energy market and smart contracts for energy systems;
Electric vehicle charging processes and associated problems

Prof. Dr. Joao Ferreira
Guest Editor

Manuscript Submission Information

Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 100 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for announcement on this website.

Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Energies is an international peer-reviewed open access semimonthly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 2200 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

Published Papers (5 papers)

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Research

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Open AccessArticle

Smart Contracts-Based Demand Response Bidding Mechanism to Enhance the Load Aggregator Model in Thailand

Anchisa Pinyo

and

Athikom Bangviwat

Energies 2023, 16(8), 3606; https://doi.org/10.3390/en16083606 - 21 Apr 2023

Viewed by 581

Abstract

In 2022, Thailand’s Demand Response (DR) business model was shifting from the Traditional Utility (TU) model to the Load Aggregator (LA) model in accordance with Thailand’s smart grid master plan. This research studied the current demand response model and mechanism to draw possible gaps in operations. This research deals with the data system owned by the individual load aggregator. The load aggregators collect meter data and evaluate demand adaptations before sending the results to claim compensation on behalf of their customers. This approach lacks transparency and facilitates distortion of the facts. Hence, this research introduces the data execution by smart contracts and data records on the blockchain that enhance transparent data sharing among multiple parties and maintain data integrity. Moreover, the proposed bidding algorithm allows customers to offer an expected price under the maximum incentive payment determined by the avoided costs of running the peaking power plants. Hence, the bidding helps reflect the DR operation costs on the customer side and control the budget for incentive payments. This study emphasized the smart contracts and decentralized application layer, so the public blockchain is a reasonable network for the test. However, implementation in real cases using the public blockchain requires careful considerations, such as network fees, transaction speeds, and the security of smart contract codes. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Blockchain, IoT and Smart Grids Challenges for Energy)

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Open AccessArticle

Blockchain-Based Hardware-in-the-Loop Simulation of a Decentralized Controller for Local Energy Communities

and

Energies 2022, 15(20), 7623; https://doi.org/10.3390/en15207623 - 15 Oct 2022

Cited by 1 | Viewed by 709

Abstract

The development of local energy communities observed in the last years requires the reorganization of energy consumption and production. In these newly considered energy systems, the commercial and technical decision processes should be decentralized in order to reduce their maintenance costs. This will be allowed by the progressive spreading of IoT systems capable of interacting with distributed energy resources, giving local sources the ability to be optimally coordinated in terms of network and energy management. In this context, this paper presents a decentralized controlling architecture that performs a wide spectrum of power system optimization procedures oriented to the local market management. The controller framework is based on a decentralized genetic algorithm. The manuscript describes the structure of the tool and its validation, considering an automated distributed resource scheduling for local energy markets. The simulation platform permits implementing the blockchain-based trading process and the automated distributed resource scheduling. The effectiveness of the tool proposed is discussed with a hardware-in-the-loop case study. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Blockchain, IoT and Smart Grids Challenges for Energy)

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Open AccessArticle

Roaming Service for Electric Vehicle Charging Using Blockchain-Based Digital Identity

Joao C. Ferreira

Catarina Ferreira da Silva

and

Jose P. Martins

Energies 2021, 14(6), 1686; https://doi.org/10.3390/en14061686 - 18 Mar 2021

Cited by 9 | Viewed by 2880

Abstract

We present a suitable approach to address the electric vehicle charging roaming problem (e-roaming). Blockchain technologies are applied to support the identity management process of users charging their vehicles and to record energy transactions securely. At the same time, off-chain cloud-based storage is used to record the transaction details. A user wallet settled on a mobile application stores user verified credentials; a backend application in the vehicle charging station validates the user credentials to authorize the energy transaction. The current model can be applied to similar contexts where the user may be required to keep several credentials from different providers to authenticate digital transactions. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Blockchain, IoT and Smart Grids Challenges for Energy)

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Review

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Open AccessReview

Status, Challenges and Future Directions of Blockchain Technology in Power System: A State of Art Review

Bhupendra Bimal Chhetri

and

Kamal Chapagain

Energies 2022, 15(22), 8571; https://doi.org/10.3390/en15228571 - 16 Nov 2022

Cited by 1 | Viewed by 946

Abstract

Intermittent distributed energy resources (DERs) add challenges to the modern power system network. On the other hand, information and communication technology (ICT) is changing traditional electricity grids into smart grids, which facilitates a decentralized system in which prosumers may participate in energy trading. Smart grids, DER integration, and network connectivity are adding complexity to the power system network day by day; Blockchain technology might be a great tool to manage the network’s operational complexity. The Blockchain provides for quicker, frictionless, secure, and transparent transactions. With the addition of smart contracts, it may be utilized to manage the expanding complexity of the contemporary power system. In this study, the authors focus on the scope, challenges, and potential future direction of Blockchain technology application in the power system. Blockchain has received interest and has been used for decentralized power system applications in recent years, but it is still young and has scalability, decentralization, and security concerns. This article discusses the interfaces and the possibilities that can assure trust, security, and transparency in decentralized power system applications and make a decentralized power system and power market possible. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Blockchain, IoT and Smart Grids Challenges for Energy)

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Open AccessReview

Impact of Blockchain Technology on Smart Grids

Hamzah Khan

and

Tariq Masood

Energies 2022, 15(19), 7189; https://doi.org/10.3390/en15197189 - 29 Sep 2022

Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1679

Abstract

Energy systems are transforming due to the incorporation of multiple distributed energy resources, such as renewable energy and battery storage systems. This transformation has triggered a need to shift power distribution from a low efficiency centralized model with high coordination costs to a decentralized distribution system comprising smart grids. Researchers have discovered a number of uses for blockchain technology in the energy sector because of its decentralized structure and possibility for safe transactions. In order to pinpoint current trends and important research directions in this area, this article thoroughly examines the effects of blockchain technology on smart grids and distributed energy resources. The aim of this paper is also to identify research gaps and future research initiatives in the area of blockchain-based energy distribution. To do this, 92 research publications were subjected to a comprehensive literature review based on predetermined criteria. Transactive Energy, Electric Vehicle Integration, Privacy and Security, and Demand Response, together with some other relatively fresh and unexplored topics, were, therefore, highlighted as four major focal areas of blockchain energy research. We have also drawn attention to the gaps in the research that has already been done and the constraints imposed by present systems that must be removed before blockchain technology can be widely used. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Blockchain, IoT and Smart Grids Challenges for Energy)

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