Page 52 - U4SSC Blockchain for smart sustainable cities

Case 4. Energy system in South Holland

Most energy systems are designed using Local balancing is possible if peer-to-peer sharing
a centralized model. A power plant feeds of energy can happen across these different
energy into the system which is transformed energy communities, creating a fractal grid that
into smaller voltages for use by homes and can operate at many different scales. 77
businesses. Currently, there is a decentralized Blockchain technology promises to facilitate
influx of renewable energy sources into this localized balancing in energy grids through
system. While these initiatives are necessary smart contracts that are activated at specified
for long-term sustainability, current grids were values of parameters like energy price, available
not designed for this type of energy supply. storage capacity, forecasts of supply and demand
It becomes difficult to balance supply and or other factors. This arrangement also allows
demand in the system, and endangers the peer-to-peer trading of power. Technology to
stability, reliability and safety of these grids. facilitate this process is being designed by the
The investments required to make grids cope Energy Web Foundation.
with the changes are immense: electricity lines
need to be enlarged, substations replaced, Thus far, the project has designed and
and facilities installed to manage congestion, constructed eco-friendly houses that are well
including storage capacity for supply peaks. 76 isolated and use solar power to be 90 per cent
independent of the grid. Community energy
An innovative collaborative research project in data from 2018 have been collected, analyzed
the form of a “living lab” is investigating how and used to simulate local energy systems. The
blockchain-based energy systems (among other data showed that benefits were possible using
innovations) can be deployed to enable wide localized balancing through blockchain-based
participation in the energy system without costly transaction models and optimization schemes.
upgrades to the current grid. Partners in this The connection with the central grid could be
research include citizen energy cooperation, De scaled down, reducing costs, particularly with
Groene Mient & Warm in de Wijk, the province the addition of neighborhood batteries.
of South Holland, the local (public) energy
distribution company (Stedin), energy company To collect more detailed data to understand
Joulz, GridSingularity, The Hague University of energy behaviour and inform the technical
Applied Sciences, 4TU Research Data and the design of the smart grid, infrastructure is being
energy transition department of the city of The installed that allows for measurements of energy
Hague. flows every 10 seconds. Direct neighbors (70
households) are being asked to contribute their
If local energy networks can balance out their energy data for analysis. These data will facilitate
demand and supply patterns, less investment the design of specific control mechanisms for
is required in updating existing grids. The individual devices, batteries and other grid
smallest energy entity that can be balanced is elements, including a peer-to-peer energy
a household, with appliances using energy and trading platform. All information and designs will
batteries to store it. If an imbalance exists, the be given open access status, such that they can
household could tap into a neighborhood energy be used by other initiatives.
community, where a new balance is sought. If
the neighborhood is not in balance, a city-wide
energy exchange could be activated and so on,
potentially to the size of countries.

42 U4SSC: Blockchain for smart sustainable cities