A secure blockchain-based energy marketplace for load balancing in Low Voltage distribution grids

The fast growth of intermittent decentralised renewable energy is changing the way we use the power network, replacing dispatchable and controllable centralised load generation with a much more dynamic and unpredictable environment, in which new forms of communication, intelligence, market structure and business models will enable new scenarios. Moreover, the advent of reasonable storage solutions in mobile and static batteries and demand side response mechanisms has allowed demand flexing to meet available generation.

Thanks to the blockchain driven federated IoT business platform developed under the SOFIE project, smart micro-contracts and micro-payments will enable the emerging of neighbourhood market of energy and energy services. In the real-field energy pilot implemented in the City of Terni (IT) optimised Demand Response strategies will be tested and demonstrated in a real environment by using Electric Vehicles as recipients of the extra energy produced by the nearby PV plants and not consumed locally.

The Italian energy pilot, operated by ASM TERNI S.p.A., Emotion s.r.l. and Engineering S.p.A., will demonstrate how the SOFIE federation approach can be beneficial in case of reverse power flow in the distribution network due to the imbalanced energy consumption and production; electric mobility, including a dynamic and coordinated fleet management, has the potential to offer significant benefits if the EV charging needs meets the local green energy availability. In this regard, the Terni pilot will demonstrate in real case conditions at what extent the SOFIE solutions could help reaching this goal.

The SOFIE trial will be run at the ASM’s headquarters, located in a suburb of the city of Terni in which PV production often exceeds consumption, creating a suitable environment for testing the SOFIE federation platform. Thanks to the SOFIE federative architecture, a fleet of EVs and EV chargers will be used to absorb the extra energy, avoiding the reverse power flow in the substation and contributing to a more stable power network and secure IoT and blockchain based energy marketplace.