Page 54 - U4SSC Blockchain for smart sustainable cities

However, the users are known, and the system Better information at the household level enables
requires to be centrally controlled, which raises smarter living as greater awareness of energy use
some questions. enables individuals to modify their behaviour
accordingly. All this takes place in a context
The outcomes of the intervention include
environmental benefits as more renewable in which distributed and multi-scale solutions
energy sources can be incorporated into grids, are increasingly valued. The intervention is
and to the economy, as power supply costs can facilitated by being in a geographical area where
reduce, and supply could become more efficient. there is political and financial support for the
project, despite risks and challenges.

Lessons learned

This project depends on the buy-in of the community and their willingness to share data.
• The broad composition of the consortium allows for a strong and resilient partnership that can with-
stand some setbacks.
• The success of the project depends on a legal and political context that is supportive. The research-
ers have navigated these barriers because the work is experimental; however, it would still not be
permitted within the normal regulations of the Netherlands. Implementing the solution in other
countries is likely to face similar challenges.

As a consequence of the experimental nature of the project, results will only emerge in the long term,
and the project requires ongoing support and commitment to reach that point.

Opportunities Challenges

• Currently, the initiative is an experiment and • The project represents an opportunity to
this status will end after 10 years. If sufficient expand the sources of energy for the grid,
progress has not been made on the legal to include a more environmentally sound
and political aspects of implementing these option, while reducing the costs of adapting
kinds of solutions, the future of the concept existing grids to have this capability.
is uncertain. • Blockchain introduces the opportunity for
• Much of the technology is still under devel- using smart contracts to trade in energy at
opment, and will only be fully tested by 2030. the level of a household, community or city.
• The model that is being used to create virtual
energy communities is highly scalable. It can
be applied to any energy network where suf-
ficient data on the nodes can be measured,
and the loads can be controlled or scheduled.

44 U4SSC: Blockchain for smart sustainable cities