Distributed Ledger for Grid Stability with Smart Contracts
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Solution Overview
Problem
The increasing integration of distributed and intermittent energy resources poses challenges to grid stability, as they are difficult to monitor and manage, leading to potential frequency and voltage deviations that threaten the stability of the electrical grid.
Innovation Solution
A decentralized approach using a blockchain-based distributed ledger and smart contracts to automate the management of distributed energy resources, ensuring grid stability by measuring and adjusting production and consumption metrics in real-time.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If distributed energy resources are integrated into the grid, then energy supply diversity is improved, but grid stability deteriorates due to difficulty in monitoring and managing these resources
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a distributed ledger as an intermediary layer between distributed energy resources and the central utility system. This mediator enables transparent tracking and verification of energy production and consumption from multiple small sources without requiring direct centralized control, thus maintaining grid stability while accommodating diverse energy supply sources.
Solution Approach 2:
The system implements real-time feedback mechanisms where the distributed ledger continuously monitors energy metrics from distributed resources and automatically adjusts transactions and incentives. This closed-loop feedback enables the utility to respond dynamically to changing grid conditions while maintaining stability, even with numerous small distributed sources.
2Ease of operation
If a centralized management approach is used, then control over energy resources is improved, but the system cannot handle an increasingly large number of distributed resources
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the management system into two layers: a centralized utility layer for high-level control and a distributed ledger layer for individual resource tracking. This segmentation allows the central utility to maintain operational control while the distributed ledger independently handles the complexity of managing numerous individual resources, effectively scaling the system's handling capacity.
Solution Approach 2:
Distributed energy resources are equipped with smart meters and automated reporting capabilities that enable them to self-report their status and participate in energy transactions without manual intervention. This self-service approach reduces the burden on centralized management while maintaining control, allowing the system to handle increasing numbers of distributed resources efficiently.
3Ease of operation
If aggregators are used to manage small units, then market access is improved, but grid stability cannot be guaranteed when distributed resources continue to grow
Solution Approach 1:
The distributed ledger acts as a new intermediary layer that sits between aggregators and the utility system, providing transparent verification of energy transactions. This additional mediator layer enables the system to maintain stability guarantees even as the number of distributed resources grows, while preserving market access for small units through the aggregator model.
Solution Approach 2:
The system implements real-time feedback mechanisms where the distributed ledger continuously monitors energy metrics from distributed resources and automatically adjusts transactions and incentives. This closed-loop feedback enables the system to respond dynamically to changing grid conditions while maintaining stability, even with numerous small distributed sources.
Data Source
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AI summary
A for ensuring grid stability by using a distributed ledger (10), the method comprising the steps: measuring metrics from a plurality of distributed energy resource, DER, wherein said metrics are related to grid stability; storing (a) said metrics/measurements in the distributed ledger (10); transferring said metrics from the distributed ledger into a smart contract (2); computing any deviations between said metrics and predetermined values stored in advance in the smart contract (2) by executing the smart contract; transferring and storing results from the computing step in the distributed ledger (10); and transferring said results from the distributed ledger (10) to the respective DER of the plurality of DERs, wherein said DER receives positive or negative values which regulates the amount of contribution to the grid.