Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Energizing Blockchain: Legal Gaps and Power Plays in the Energy Sector’s Digital Transformation

  • Conference paper
  • First Online:
Blockchain and Applications, 5th International Congress (BLOCKCHAIN 2023)

Part of the book series: Lecture Notes in Networks and Systems ((LNNS,volume 778))

Included in the following conference series:

  • 228 Accesses

Abstract

For more than a century, power systems across the globe have relied on centralized electric generation and distribution. Centralized generation denotes intensive and large-scale energy generation at centralized facilities. These centralized power plants operate on fossil fuels such as natural gas and coal. The reliance and dependency on centralized fossil fuel plants have resulted in problems of scarcity and environmental issues. The high reliance on centralized energy servers is likely to result in a single point of failure where a single flaw in the energy market design and configuration can potentially affect the functioning of the entire energy system. The conventional energy system is highly susceptible to power failures and outages. Centralized energy systems can result in greater risk of data breaches, lower transparency and traceability, trust gap and higher operating costs. These deficits can be easily removed with a decentralized and distributed energy system to verify transactions and ensure validity and reliability of the data entered onto the blockchain ledger. This article explores the challenges of the application of blockchain technology in the energy sector with a focus of peer-to-peer energy trading. It investigates the lack of proper legal and regulatory framework to facilitate the adoption of blockchain technology in the energy sector.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this chapter

Log in via an institution
Chapter
USD 29.95
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
eBook
USD 149.00
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as EPUB and PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
Softcover Book
USD 199.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Compact, lightweight edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free shipping worldwide - see info

Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout

Purchases are for personal use only

Institutional subscriptions

References

  1. Mika, B., Goudz, A.: Blockchain-technology in the energy industry: Blockchain as a driver of the energy revolution? With focus on the situation in Germany. Energy Syst. 12, 285–355 (2021)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  2. Mollah, M.B., et al.: Blockchain for future smart grid: a comprehensive survey. IEEE Internet Things J. 8(1), 18–43 (2020)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  3. Besanger, Y., Tran, Q.T., Le, M.T.: On the applicability of distributed ledger architectures to peer-to-peer energy trading framework. In: 2018 IEEE International Conference on Environment and Electrical Engineering and 2018 IEEE Industrial and Commercial Power Systems Europe (EEEIC/I&CPS Europe). IEEE (2018)

    Google Scholar 

  4. Dorri, A., et al.: Peer-to-peer energytrade: a distributed private energy trading platform. In: 2019 IEEE International Conference on Blockchain and Cryptocurrency (ICBC). IEEE (2019)

    Google Scholar 

  5. Kang, J., et al.: Enabling localized peer-to-peer electricity trading among plug-in hybrid electric vehicles using consortium blockchains. IEEE Trans. Ind. Inf. 13(6), 3154–3164 (2017)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  6. Gai, K., et al.: Privacy-preserving energy trading using consortium blockchain in smart grid. IEEE Trans. Ind. Inf. 15(6), 3548–3558 (2019)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  7. Son, Y.-B., et al.: Privacy-preserving peer-to-peer energy trading in blockchain-enabled smart grids using functional encryption. Energies 13(6), 1321 (2020)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  8. Milčiuvienė, S., et al.: The role of renewable energy prosumers in implementing energy justice theory. Sustainability 11(19), 5286 (2019)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  9. Council, T.E.P.A.O.T., Directive (EU) 2018/2001, The European Parliament

    Google Scholar 

  10. Butenko, A.: User-Centered innovation and regulatory framework: energy prosumers’ market access in EU regulation (2016)

    Google Scholar 

  11. Zhang, C., et al.: Peer-to-Peer energy trading in a Microgrid. Appl. Energy 220, 1–12 (2018)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  12. Poudineh, R.: Liberalized retail electricity markets: What we have learned after two decades of experience? (2019)

    Google Scholar 

  13. Klein, M.: Die Blockchain-Technologie: Potentziale und Herausforderungen in den Netzsektoren Energie und Telekommunikation. Bundesnetzagentur (2019)

    Google Scholar 

  14. Sigl, C., et al.: The role of smart meters in P2P energy trading in the low voltage grid (2018)

    Google Scholar 

  15. Shishido, J., E.U. Solutions: Smart meter data quality insights. In: ACEEE Summer Study on Energy Efficiency in Buildings (2012)

    Google Scholar 

  16. Thukral, M.K.: Emergence of blockchain-technology application in peer-to-peer electrical-energy trading: a review. Clean Energy 5(1), 104–123 (2021)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  17. Science, F.o., Publications–Trusted Networks Lab. corporate (2020)

    Google Scholar 

  18. Lee, J., Khan, V.M.: Blockchain and smart contract for peer-to-peer energy trading platform: legal obstacles and regulatory solutions. UIC Rev. Intell. Prop. L. 19, 285 (2019)

    Google Scholar 

  19. Song, J.G., et al.: A smart contract-based p2p energy trading system with dynamic pricing on ethereum blockchain. Sensors 21(6), 1985 (2021)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  20. Finocchiaro, G., Bomprezzi, C.: A legal analysis of the use of blockchain technology for the formation of smart legal contracts. MediaLaws (2020)

    Google Scholar 

  21. Schneiders, A., Shipworth, D.: Community energy groups: can they shield consumers from the risks of using blockchain for peer-to-peer energy trading? Energies 14(12), 3569 (2021)

    Article  Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Associate Head of Law School, University of Sunderland, Sunderland, SR6 0DD, UK

    Pardis M Tehrani

Authors
  1. Pardis M Tehrani
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Pardis M Tehrani .

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. Universidade do Minho, Braga, Portugal

    José Manuel Machado

  2. BISITE research group, University of Salamanca, Salamanca, Spain

    Javier Prieto

  3. Guarda Polytechnic Institute, Guarda, Portugal

    Paulo Vieira

  4. Universidade do Minho, Braga, Portugal

    Hugo Peixoto

  5. Universidade do Minho, Braga, Portugal

    António Abelha

  6. Científicas, ITEFI, Instituto de Física Aplicada, Consejo Superior de Investigaciones, Madrid, Spain

    David Arroyo

  7. Pappelallee, IOTA Foundation, Berlin, Germany

    Luigi Vigneri

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

Copyright information

© 2023 The Author(s), under exclusive license to Springer Nature Switzerland AG

About this paper

Check for updates. Verify currency and authenticity via CrossMark

Cite this paper

M Tehrani, P. (2023). Energizing Blockchain: Legal Gaps and Power Plays in the Energy Sector’s Digital Transformation. In: Machado, J.M., et al. Blockchain and Applications, 5th International Congress. BLOCKCHAIN 2023. Lecture Notes in Networks and Systems, vol 778. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-031-45155-3_6

Download citation

Publish with us

Policies and ethics

Search

Navigation