Blockchain-integrated software defined decentralized peer-to-peer energy trading network for sustainable smart power grid

The development of the Smart Grid (SG) has transformed energy management by integrating smart devices, such as the Internet of Things (IoT), with advanced communication technologies, enabling sophisticated services, including load management and grid stability. However, energy trading within SGs faces critical challenges, including high transaction costs, inefficiency, and a lack of transparency due to centralized control and reliance on intermediary organizations. To address these challenges, this paper proposes a blockchain-integrated software-defined decentralized P2P energy trading framework for sustainable smart power grids. The proposed architecture combines blockchain technology with Software-Defined Networking (SDN) to enable secure energy transactions, efficient network flow control, and real-time adaptability without reliance on intermediaries. Moreover, a customized miner and leader node selection algorithm is introduced, considering energy level, reputation value, and time of stay to enhance fairness, reduce mining overhead, and improve transaction validation efficiency. Furthermore, simulations of the proposed framework are conducted, with performance evaluated using metrics such as throughput, round-trip time, transaction latency, and block formation time. The proposed system achieved a transaction validation time of 32 ms, outperforming comparable blockchain-based systems such as BEST, which required 35 ms. Miner selection time increases predictably, with selecting 40 miners taking three times longer than selecting 20 miners. In the SDN performance analysis, a 50-node topology achieved the highest throughput and the lowest Round-Trip Time (RTT) compared to 10- and 20-node configurations, demonstrating improved scalability and reduced latency. Additionally, the proposed SDN-blockchain architecture delivered higher throughput than the extended MINA-based architecture due to optimized controller clustering and traffic distribution. Finally, fostering a reliable and sustainable low-carbon energy infrastructure contributes significantly to advancing modern energy systems.