## 7 Conclusions  
P2P energy trading is a new billing mechanism to incentivize prosumers to invest in DER projects, thereby contributing to the decentralization and decarbonization of the energy grid. This model allows private entities to generate and store energy and sell it back to other interested consumers in an open market ecosystem and without restrictions from the grid operator or the utility, thus turning the traditional electricity consumer into a proactive member of the electricity value chain and transforming the energy market into a consumer-driven model that can be beneficial to all stakeholders. Also, as shown in our simulations, the P2P energy trading model benefits consumers, allowing them to reduce their annual payments for electricity. In addition, P2P energy trading can also be beneficial for utilities. A utility's annual net profit would range from 10% to 30%. By applying a 15% wheeling fee to the P2P transactions and automating the billing process and management of these transactions through blockchain technology, the wheeling fee can be considered as a net profit for utility companies. P2P energy trading promotes deregulation of the energy market, thus breaking the monopoly of utility companies faced with other billing systems such as NEM and FiT. However, P2P energy trading is challenging in handling the technical and financial aspects of the transactions without relying on a common third-party that has the trust of all peers  
Figure 16: PV size impact on total savings—Prosumer A.  
Figure 17: PV size impact on total savings—Prosumer B.  
to manage the energy exchanges in a secure and controlled manner. Hence, a P2P energy trading model would not be feasible without relying on blockchain technology. Blockchain is the perfect match for P2P energy trading because of its capability to automate energy and financial transactions and establish trust between unknown peers while maintaining the anonymity of the peers, immutability and traceability of transactions, and transparency in the process as well as security and immunity against tampering. Hence, blockchain offers a low-cost platform for managing and operating any P2P energy trading mechanism. The current P2P energy trading simulation model can be further applied to assess its impact on other DERs such as electric vehicles and demand response programs. For electric vehicles, the P2P energy trading model can be used to incentivize vehicle-to-grid (V2G) energy exchange as well as vehicle-to-vehicle (V2V) energy trading. Similarly, combining P2P energy trading with demand response capabilities offers several benefits. Consumers can adjust their energy consumption based on real-time pricing signals or supply-demand imbalances within the local energy market. Consumers can save money by buying electricity from nearby prosumers at lower prices or reducing consumption during peak demand periods when prices are high. By actively managing energy consumption and generation within the local network, P2P energy trading with demand response can help enhance grid stability and reliability, particularly during peak demand periods or in regions with high levels of renewable energy generation. In conclusion, this study sheds light on a new billing mechanism that can benefit all stakeholders. Through simulation and analysis, we have demonstrated that P2P energy trading can be a better option than conventional billing mechanisms in many situations. Moving forward, it is essential to investigate the P2P energy trading mechanism further under other scenarios to build upon the foundation laid by this study and address any remaining questions or uncertainties. Conceptualization, A.A.; methodology, A.A.; software, A.A.; validation, A.I., M.A. and M.G. ; formal analysis, A.A.; investigation, A.A.; resources, H.I. ; data curation, A.A.; writing--original draft preparation, A.A.; writing--review and editing, A.I. and M.A. ; visualization, A.A.; supervision, M.A. ; project administration, H.I. ; funding acquisition, A.I.