Blockchain microgrids have become a pivotal theme in the rapidly developing energy sector. Amit Sharma, Power Analyst at GlobalData, a global data and analytics company, offers his view on this development and what we can expect from blockchain microgrids in the future:
This information is based on two GlobalData reports: Microgrids, Update 2018 and Key Country Analysis to 2022 Blockchain in Utilities.
“The global microgrid market size is estimated to grow at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 15% between 2018 and 2022 and is expected to reach $30bn by 2022,” he said.” As the market liberalizes and renewable energy grows, blockchain offers an effective way to handle the increasingly complex and decentralized transactions between users, large and small-scale producers, retailers, traders and utilities.”
According to Sharma, there are more than 150 companies developing blockchain energy tools, with many also developing tools for peer-to-peer energy transactions. Other types of transactions for blockchain may include trading renewable energy credits or wholesale energy.
“There are now over 100 demonstration projects deployed or planned around the world in the electricity industry alone. Energy-focused blockchain startups raised over $300m between Q2 2017 and Q1 2018, and industry experts expect that blockchain investment in the energy sector will reach more than $5.8bn by 2025.”
He provided some examples: “LO3 Energy, based in New York, along with Siemens Digital Grid and Siemens’ startup financier, next47, is working on the Brooklyn Microgrid project. Another firm, Electron, is leveraging blockchain technology to help enable partnerships on the grid in collaboration with French energy giant, EDF. Blockchain plays a key role when companies have shared infrastructure. Power Ledger, an Australian startup which raised AUD34m ($26m) in an ICO, is building platforms to enable commercial operation of microgrids in Thailand and India and two commercial buildings in West Australia.”
In addition, a U.S. startup is expected to launch its first retail device next year in Texas, using the Ethereum blockchain that lets users buy and sell electricity at wholesale prices.
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