Opportunities for blockchain application in distributed solar energy (DSE) projects
Creators: name: Gunarathna, Matota Arachchilage Chathuri
Publisher: name: RMIT University
Year: 2024
Subjects: classificationCode: 330204
subject: Building information modelling and management

description: The rapid uptake of solar Photovoltaics (PV) is beneficial for the environment; however, the continuously increasing renewable energy feeding upsets the balance of the national grid. Promoting local energy balancing and energy self-sufficiency can control the above impact. Distributed generation promotes the local use of locally generated energy via distributed solar energy (DSE) applications. DSE has two main applications: (1) building attached photovoltaics (BAPV) (commonly known as rooftop PV) and (2) building integrated photovoltaics (BIPV). Although technical advances and market growth have strengthened public faith in DSE applications, many obstacles to their adoption as a main source of energy remain. Rooftop PV has been widely adopted around the world; however, this rapid uptake has created some serious issues for national grid in terms of load balancing and capacity allocations. Therefore, the rooftop PV sector is exploring the potential of local consumption of locally generated PV energy via peer-to-peer (P2P) trading communities. On the other hand, BIPV is still not very popular, mainly due to the lack of trust in the technology and applications, information gaps and limited stakeholder collaboration. Therefore, the BIPV sector is exploring opportunities to increase stakeholder trust in and understanding of the technology via supply chain integration and effective information management. Blockchain is an effective technology which can meet current demands in both P2P trading and BIPV projects. The aim of this study is to explore opportunities to apply blockchain technology in the DSE project lifecycle, considering both P2P trading communities and BIPV applications. A comprehensive literature review was conducted to identify current practices of BIPV and community energy projects. The literature review identified 10 stakeholder issues related to BIPV uptake and 11 stakeholder issues related to P2P trading community uptake. The opportunities for using blockchain technology in DSE projects were also investigated using a literature review and a global review of P2P trading projects. This review identified the special characteristics and underlying technologies of blockchain which present the above opportunities. 

A series of semi-structured interviews were conducted with 50 PV/BIPV stakeholders and 23 community energy stakeholders to confirm and expand the stakeholder issues identified in the literature review.  The interviews identified six new stakeholder issues related to BIPV projects and 3 new stakeholder issues related to P2P trading community projects. The interviews also identified 7 stakeholder expectations related to BIPV projects and 11 expectations related to P2P trading community projects. The interview and literature findings were analysed to identify how blockchain technology can eliminate or reduce the above issues and meet stakeholder expectations. Based on the findings, a blockchain-enabled framework is developed to eliminate (or reduce) stakeholder issues and meet stakeholder expectations in DSE projects. The framework considers both building-scale (BIPV) and community-scale (P2P trading community) aspects of DSE applications. 

Two cases are selected: one representing BIPV projects and the other representing community energy projects to (1) develop and implement blockchain systems and (2) evaluate their ability to eliminate (or reduce) stakeholder issues and meet stakeholder expectations. For the BIPV case, a blockchain-enabled information platform is developed using the Hyperledger Fabric backend and HTML interface. The system has four channels dedicated to communication between client, design consultant, contractor, PV storage system supplier, and facilities manager. The members in each channel can communicate with each other securely and transparently, share and track documents and maintain systematic records. The system has demonstrated its ability to deliver full or partial solutions to all identified stakeholder issues and address all stakeholder expectations. The system also showed increased information reliability and flawless communication. 

For the community energy case, a blockchain-enabled P2P trading platform is developed using the Ethereum blockchain backend and an HTML interface. The interface is developed to collect data, perform necessary computations and upload to the Ethereum blockchain according to smart contracts. A smart contract is developed and tested in the Ethereum platform. The Ethereum network records all P2P transactions between the consumers and prosumers. The system clearly demonstrated its ability to deliver full or partial solutions to 12 stakeholder issues and address 8 stakeholder expectations. Two stakeholder issues are unable to be addressed via the blockchain platform since they have uncovered the weaknesses of blockchain technology. The P2P trading platform has also demonstrated its ability to facilitate decentralised trading and data management. 

The developed frameworks are validated through interviews and literature. The outcome of this study indicates areas of DSE projects which can be improved by the application of blockchain technology.