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
