32 research outputs found
Blockchain-based Peer-to-Peer Energy Trade
Motivated by numerous drivers, blockchain-based
peer-to-peer energy trade whitepapers surged in the past two
years. Assuming disruption through blockchain technology, they
envisioned a transformation of energy systems through technosocio-
economic solutions.
Few impartial and sober assessments of blockchain-based
energy projects exist, and many publications praise disruptive
potential without further examination. A more distant and
critical perspective, however, is imperative for a responsible use
of a novel, in particular disruptive, technology.
This review aims at surveying the energy system envisioned
by the projects through discussing the projects by their characteristics,
their perspective on the transactive energy lifecycle
and the energy ecosystem envisioned in the white papers. This
review is descriptive and comparative in nature, and attempts to
synthesize topics raised in the white papers through methods of
grounded theory, as well as assessing the disruptive potential of
blockchain technology in energy systems.
Through this and a critical and neutral perspective, it strives to
(soberly) contribute to a discussion on the digitization of elements
of the energy system, and how blockchain-based use cases can
contribute constructively to the problems at hand
The Influence of Financial Benefits and Peer Effects on the Adoption of Residential Rooftop Photovoltaic Systems
The uptake of residential photovoltaic systems is
essential for energy system transformation towards carbon
neutrality and decentralization. However, despite numerous
campaigns to incentivize their uptake, adoption by residential
homeowners is lacking behind. While countless drivers and
barriers have been identified, the decision process is not fully
understood. To address this gap, we developed an agent-based
residential rooftop photovoltaic adoption model called PVact. Our
model analyzes the interactions of potential household adopters
based on their utility functions and social network, with a focus
on the role of monetary evaluation and social pressure in adoption
behavior. In this paper, we aim to assess the influence of monetary
evaluation and social pressure in an abstract case study based
on real-world data from the municipality of Leipzig, Germany.
We consider stochastic dynamics through scenario analysis to
investigate the influence of these factors on adoption behavior.
Our results show that monetary evaluation and social pressure
have a significant impact on adoption behavior. Specifically, we
find shifting adoption patterns with an increased requirement for
monetary returns and higher level of normative pressure required
for households to act. Higher resistance against these pressure
shows more stochastic variations
LabChain: an Interactive Prototype for Synthetic Peer-to-Peer Trade Research in Experimental Energy Economics
Blockchain-based peer-to-peer (P2P) electricity markets
received considerable attention in the past years, leading to a
rich variety of proposed market designs. Yet, little comparability
and consensus exists on optimal market design, also due to a
lack of common evaluation and benchmarking infrastructure.
This article describes LabChain, an interactive prototype as
research infrastructure for conducting experiments in (simulated)
P2P electricity markets involving real human actors. The software
stack comprises: (i) an (open) data layer for experiment
configuration, (ii) a blockchain layer to reliably document bids
and transactions, (iii) an experiment coordination layer and (iv)
a user interface layer for participant interactions.
As evaluation environment for human interactions within a
laboratory setting, researchers can investigate patterns based
on energy system and market setup and can compare and
evaluate designs under real human behavior allowing alignment
of intentions and outcomes. This contributes to the evaluation
and benchmarking infrastructure discourse
Competition effects of simultaneous application of flexibility options within an energy community
As part of an increased diffusion of decentralized
renewable energy technologies, an additional need for flexibility
arises. Studies indicate that operating battery storage systems
for multiple uses as community electricity storage system (CES)
promises superior benefits. This seems decisive, since cheaper
flexibility options such as demand response (DR) are more
applicable and might further reduce the market size for storage
facilities. This research paper aims to analyze the competition
effects of CES with simultaneous application of DR. The optimization
results of the synthetic case studies provide insights
in the profitability level, the service provision and the flexibility
potential. While even under requested legal circumstances a CES
is only partially profitable, the economic situation improves in
terms of an optimal storage utilization. This, however, is reduced
through competition effects with DR
Quantum Gates and Memory using Microwave Dressed States
Trapped atomic ions have been successfully used for demonstrating basic
elements of universal quantum information processing (QIP). Nevertheless,
scaling up of these methods and techniques to achieve large scale universal
QIP, or more specialized quantum simulations remains challenging. The use of
easily controllable and stable microwave sources instead of complex laser
systems on the other hand promises to remove obstacles to scalability.
Important remaining drawbacks in this approach are the use of magnetic field
sensitive states, which shorten coherence times considerably, and the
requirement to create large stable magnetic field gradients. Here, we present
theoretically a novel approach based on dressing magnetic field sensitive
states with microwave fields which addresses both issues and permits fast
quantum logic. We experimentally demonstrate basic building blocks of this
scheme to show that these dressed states are long-lived and coherence times are
increased by more than two orders of magnitude compared to bare magnetic field
sensitive states. This changes decisively the prospect of microwave-driven ion
trap QIP and offers a new route to extend coherence times for all systems that
suffer from magnetic noise such as neutral atoms, NV-centres, quantum dots, or
circuit-QED systems.Comment: 9 pages, 4 figure
A modular multi-agent framework for innovation diffusion in changing business environments: conceptualization, formalization and implementation
Understanding how innovations are accepted in a dynamic and complex market environment is a crucial factor for competitive advantage. To understand the relevant factors for this diffusion and to predict success, empirically grounded agent-based models have become increasingly popular in recent years. Despite the popularity of these innovation diffusion models, no common framework that integrates their diversity exists. This article presents a flexible, modular and extensible common description and implementation framework that allows to depict the large variety of model components found in existing models. The framework aims to provide a theoretically grounded description and implementation framework for empirically grounded agent-based models of innovation diffusion. It identifies 30 component requirements to conceptualize an integrated formal framework description. Based on this formal description, a java-based implementation allowing for flexible configuration of existing and future models of innovation diffusion is developed. As a variable decision support tool in decision-making processes on the adoption of innovations the framework is valuable for the investigation of a range of research questions on innovation diffusion, business model evaluation and infrastructure transformation
From ambivalence to trust: Using blockchain in customer loyalty programs
Global initiatives on climate protection and national sustainability policies are accelerating the replacement of fossil fuels with renewable energy sources. Many electricity suppliers are engaged in efforts to monetize this transition with ‘green’ services and products, such as Green Electricity Tariffs. These promise customers that their supply includes a specific share of green electricity, yet since electricity suppliers often fail to deliver on those promises, many customers have lost trust in their suppliers. Further information asymmetries may not only exacerbate this loss of trust, but also spark distrust and lead to an overall feeling of ambivalence. Eventually, ambivalent customers may feel inclined to switch suppliers. To prevent this domino effect, electricity suppliers must eliminate ambivalence by increasing customer trust and reducing customer distrust. Here, we discuss how these challenges can be met with a customer loyalty program built on blockchain technology. We developed the program following a Design Science Research approach that facilitated refinement in four iteration and evaluation cycles. Our results indicate that the developed customer loyalty program restores trust, reduces distrust, and resolves customer ambivalence by providing four features: improved customer agency, sufficient and verifiable information, appropriate levels of usability, and unobstructed data access