Performance Evaluation of Communication Infrastructure for Peer-to-Peer Energy Trading in Community Microgrids

Abstract

With the rapidly growing energy consumption and the rising number of prosumers, next-generation energy management systems are facing significant impacts by peer-to-peer (P2P) energy trading, which will enable prosumers to sell and purchase energy locally. Until now, the large-scale deployment of P2P energy trading has still posed many technical challenges for both physical and virtual layers. Although the communication infrastructure represents the cornerstone to enabling real-time monitoring and control, less attention has been given to the performance of different communication technologies to support P2P implementations. This work investigates the scalability and performance of the communication infrastructure that supports P2P energy trading on a community microgrid. Five levels make up the developed P2P architecture: the power grid, communication network, cloud management, blockchain, and application. Based on the IEC 61850 standard, we developed a communication network model for a smart consumer that comprised renewable energy sources and energy storage devices. Two different scenarios were investigated: a home area network for a smart prosumer and a neighborhood area network for a community-based P2P architecture. Through simulations, the suggested network models were assessed for their channel bandwidth and end-to-end latency utilizing different communication technologies.

Integration of LiFi, BPL, and Fiber Optic Technologies in Smart Grid Backbone Networks: A Proposal for Exploiting the LiFi LED Street Lighting Networks of Power Utilities and Smart Cities

“…In fact, each BPL topology is bounded by its transmitting end (position A) and receiving end (position B) where BPL units are installed. These BPL units can be either BPL signal injectors/extractors or BPL signal repeaters, depending on the location and the role of the BPL topology across the overall BPL network [2,3,8,20,[91][92][93][94][95][96][97][98][99].…”

“…In fact, each BPL topology is bounded by its transmitting end (position A) and receiving end (position B) where BPL units are installed. These BPL units can be either BPL signal injectors/extractors or BPL signal repeaters, depending on the location and the role of the BPL topology across the overall BPL network [2,3,8,20,[91][92][93][94][95][96][97][98][99]. To address the EMI concerns of the potential interference caused by the BPL systems, regulations and standards have been developed; with reference to [8,92], regulated EMI for BPL networks typically involves adherence to specific emission limits, signal power masks, technical requirements and compliance testing to ensure that BPL systems do not interfere with other already licensed communications services.…”

“…The smart grid is the modernized version of the vintage electric power grid that exploits fiber optics and other communications technologies to enable the real-time monitoring and control of power generation, transmission, distribution and consumption [1][2][3][4][5][6][7][8]. Through the adoption of the smart grid, the reliability, efficiency, security and sustainability of the electric power system can significantly improve by integrating renewable energy sources, demand response programs, distributed generation and energy storage systems [9][10][11].…”

P2P Energy Trading of EVs Using Blockchain Technology in Centralized and Decentralized Networks: A Review

“…The proliferation of P2P energy trading has changed the whole concept of how energy was distributed a decade ago. This proliferation has increased the number of prosumers in electric distribution networks [1,2]. Additionally, today's energy trading system is undergoing a paradigm shift from centralized to decentralized networks due to its reliability, security, and transparency [3].…”

A Voltage-Aware P2P Power Trading System Aimed at Eliminating Unfairness Due to the Interconnection Location

“…However, due to the uneven output of solar power, the price of electricity sold is below 10 JPY/kWh for many businesses, which means the price will drop significantly. As a new trading venue for such surplus power, P2P power trading, which utilizes blockchain to conduct power transactions, is being considered [3][4][5][6]. P2P is an abbreviation for Peer to Peer, meaning transactions between equals, and the P2P power trading market is a market where consumers who sell surplus power (hereinafter referred to as "prosumers") and consumers who purchase power (hereinafter referred to as "consumers") exchange power.…”