Modeling a multisided platform for renewable energy trade based on Blockchain.

Abstract

The vision behind this thesis is to capitalise the opportunities presented by the current changes in the electricity market being driven by decarbonisation, digitalisation and decentralisation. A multisided platform could be the way to enable innovative distributed energy resources in a collaborative open market, based on the blockchain guarantees of a security and transparency. A move to more renewable energy sources to achieve the climate objectives can never be financed based on the energy cost alone. Single agents today have only the possibility to reduce consumption, but are unable to participate actively on the market. Agents need an ecosystem able to unlock the possibilities of renewable energy. This ecosystem creates value for the participants by combining their needs and capabilities with the inefficiencies and possibilities of the electricity market. Blockchain is a valuable enabler for the functionality. It delivers the required data management and settlement requirements plus it facilitates as well open innovation and development of 3rd party offerings on top of the existing platform resulting in more value for the participants of the network. A multisided platform described in this thesis using a distributed ledger creates capabilities which cannot be achieved with the current business models. The multisided platform ecosystem will facilitate the consumer to exploit the advantages of renewable energies. By participating in the ecosystem, the consumer creates value and helps to achieve the EU climate goals.