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A multi-timescale blockchain-based virtual power plant trading framework for building integrated photovoltaic prosumers

Author

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  • Luan, Wenpeng
  • Tian, Longfei
  • Zhao, Bochao
  • Ai, Qian

Abstract

Aggregating demand-side resources (DSR) as a form of virtual power plant (VPP) enables their possessors to participate in trading energy and derivatives. Towards urban communities with building integrated photovoltaics (BIPV), activating the potential of DSR operation optimization is meaningful. Inspired by the current works, a dual-layer residential VPP trading framework is developed with home energy management systems (HEMS) to manage DSRs. Blockchain is utilized for the distributed ledger with a main-side scheme, where the main chain refers to the DSR aggregation layer, and side chains are deployed for the DSR layer. Energy, peak regulation, and the tradable green certificates are traded across day-ahead and real-time phases, stipulated by a series of smart contracts. In day-ahead VPP trading, multi-turn interactions are carried out between BIPV prosumers and the VPP operator through aggregation agents. To compensate for the real-time imbalance caused by the scheduling errors, in-house batteries of prosumers are selected and dispatched by HEMSs based on the proposed reputation rating method, with a reward and punishment mechanism evaluating whether the battery capacity satisfies the discharging/charging demand. Based on a real-world dataset, simulation results verify the proposed VPP trading framework with case studies illustrating the superiority of dispatching batteries for scheduling error compensation.

Suggested Citation

  • Luan, Wenpeng & Tian, Longfei & Zhao, Bochao & Ai, Qian, 2025. "A multi-timescale blockchain-based virtual power plant trading framework for building integrated photovoltaic prosumers," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 398(C).
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:appene:v:398:y:2025:i:c:s0306261925011523
    DOI: 10.1016/j.apenergy.2025.126422
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    References listed on IDEAS

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