IDEAS home Printed from https://ideas.repec.org/a/eee/teinso/v84y2026ics0160791x25002830.html

Integrating blockchain with virtual power plants: Two-level future roadmaps for enhanced performance

Author

Listed:
  • Hong, Juwon
  • Song, Eunseong
  • Choi, Jinwoo
  • Song, Sangkil
  • Kim, Hakpyeong
  • Kang, Hyuna
  • Hong, Taehoon

Abstract

Blockchain is emerging as a major advanced technology to facilitate virtual power plants (VPPs), a means to address global environmental challenges through achieving zero carbon. As the blockchain market in the energy sector grows, the integration of blockchain into VPPs will continue to expand. To this end, this study comprehensively reviewed 129 previous studies integrating blockchain into VPPs to propose ways to enhance the performance of VPPs through blockchain. Based on the quantitative analysis of research trends and interests, it was found that while research trends were on the rise, they were still in the early stages, and research interests were somewhat concentrated on energy trading via smart contracts. In other words, the need to propose comprehensive future roadmaps to revitalize early-stage research in a limited field. Based on the qualitative analysis of research status by VPP components, research limitations that provide direction for future roadmaps were identified. As a result, two-level future roadmaps were proposed, consisting of function-level and integration-level roadmaps. Implementing blockchain in VPPs according to the proposed future roadmaps is expected to result in innovative performance enhancement for VPPs and significantly advance the goal of achieving zero carbon.

Suggested Citation

  • Hong, Juwon & Song, Eunseong & Choi, Jinwoo & Song, Sangkil & Kim, Hakpyeong & Kang, Hyuna & Hong, Taehoon, 2026. "Integrating blockchain with virtual power plants: Two-level future roadmaps for enhanced performance," Technology in Society, Elsevier, vol. 84(C).
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:teinso:v:84:y:2026:i:c:s0160791x25002830
    DOI: 10.1016/j.techsoc.2025.103093
    as

    Download full text from publisher

    File URL: http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0160791X25002830
    Download Restriction: Full text for ScienceDirect subscribers only
    File URL: https://libkey.io/10.1016/j.techsoc.2025.103093?utm_source=ideas
    LibKey link: if access is restricted and if your library uses this service, LibKey will redirect you to where you can use your library subscription to access this item
    ---><---

    As the access to this document is restricted, you may want to

    for a different version of it.

    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Yin, Shuangrui & Ai, Qian & Li, Jiamei & Li, Da & Guo, Qinglei, 2022. "Trading mode design for a virtual power plant based on main-side consortium blockchains," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 325(C).
    2. Lopez, Hector K. & Zilouchian, Ali, 2023. "Peer-to-peer energy trading for photo-voltaic prosumers," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 263(PA).
    3. Xu, Deyi & Abbas, Shah & Rafique, Kalsoom & Ali, Najabat, 2023. "The race to net-zero emissions: Can green technological innovation and environmental regulation be the potential pathway to net-zero emissions?," Technology in Society, Elsevier, vol. 75(C).
    4. Shengmin Tan & Xu Wang & Chuanwen Jiang, 2019. "Privacy-Preserving Energy Scheduling for ESCOs Based on Energy Blockchain Network," Energies, MDPI, vol. 12(8), pages 1-16, April.
    5. Dawoud, Samir M. & Lin, Xiangning & Okba, Merfat I., 2018. "Hybrid renewable microgrid optimization techniques: A review," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 82(P3), pages 2039-2052.
    6. Soto, Esteban A. & Bosman, Lisa B. & Wollega, Ebisa & Leon-Salas, Walter D., 2021. "Peer-to-peer energy trading: A review of the literature," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 283(C).
    7. Wang, Longze & Jiao, Shucen & Xie, Yu & Xia, Shiwei & Zhang, Delong & Zhang, Yan & Li, Meicheng, 2022. "Two-way dynamic pricing mechanism of hydrogen filling stations in electric-hydrogen coupling system enhanced by blockchain," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 239(PC).
    8. Katharine Sanderson & Carissa Wong, 2024. "EU unveils controversial climate target: what scientists think," Nature, Nature, vol. 626(7999), pages 467-467, February.
    9. Huang, Z.F. & Soh, K.Y. & Islam, M.R. & Chua, K.J., 2023. "Development of a novel grid-free district cooling system considering blockchain-based demand response management," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 342(C).
    10. Hua, Weiqi & Chen, Ying & Qadrdan, Meysam & Jiang, Jing & Sun, Hongjian & Wu, Jianzhong, 2022. "Applications of blockchain and artificial intelligence technologies for enabling prosumers in smart grids: A review," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 161(C).
    11. Yin, Haitao & Powers, Nicholas, 2010. "Do state renewable portfolio standards promote in-state renewable generation[glottal stop]," Energy Policy, Elsevier, vol. 38(2), pages 1140-1149, February.
    12. Umar, Abdullah & Kumar, Deepak & Ghose, Tirthadip, 2022. "Blockchain-based decentralized energy intra-trading with battery storage flexibility in a community microgrid system," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 322(C).
    13. Cong, Lin William & Li, Ye & Wang, Neng, 2022. "Token-based platform finance," Journal of Financial Economics, Elsevier, vol. 144(3), pages 972-991.
    14. Brilliantova, Vlada & Thurner, Thomas Wolfgang, 2019. "Blockchain and the future of energy," Technology in Society, Elsevier, vol. 57(C), pages 38-45.
    15. Hasan Tercan & Tobias Meisen, 2022. "Machine learning and deep learning based predictive quality in manufacturing: a systematic review," Journal of Intelligent Manufacturing, Springer, vol. 33(7), pages 1879-1905, October.
    16. Nawaz, Arshad & Zhou, Min & Wu, Jing & Long, Chengnian, 2022. "A comprehensive review on energy management, demand response, and coordination schemes utilization in multi-microgrids network," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 323(C).
    17. Lee, Minhyun & Hong, Taehoon & Koo, Choongwan, 2016. "An economic impact analysis of state solar incentives for improving financial performance of residential solar photovoltaic systems in the United States," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 58(C), pages 590-607.
    18. Claudia Antal & Tudor Cioara & Ionut Anghel & Marcel Antal & Ioan Salomie, 2021. "Distributed Ledger Technology Review and Decentralized Applications Development Guidelines," Future Internet, MDPI, vol. 13(3), pages 1-32, February.
    19. Shen, Meng & Lu, Yujie & Wei, Kua Harn & Cui, Qingbin, 2020. "Prediction of household electricity consumption and effectiveness of concerted intervention strategies based on occupant behaviour and personality traits," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 127(C).
    20. Nosratabadi, Seyyed Mostafa & Hooshmand, Rahmat-Allah & Gholipour, Eskandar, 2017. "A comprehensive review on microgrid and virtual power plant concepts employed for distributed energy resources scheduling in power systems," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 67(C), pages 341-363.
    21. Kang, Hyuna & Jung, Seunghoon & Kim, Hakpyeong & Hong, Juwon & Jeoung, Jaewon & Hong, Taehoon, 2023. "Multi-objective sizing and real-time scheduling of battery energy storage in energy-sharing community based on reinforcement learning," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 185(C).
    22. Kaiss, Mateus & Wan, Yihao & Gebbran, Daniel & Vila, Clodomiro Unsihuay & Dragičević, Tomislav, 2025. "Review on Virtual Power Plants/Virtual Aggregators: Concepts, applications, prospects and operation strategies," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 211(C).
    23. Wenting Zhao & Jun Lv & Xilong Yao & Juanjuan Zhao & Zhixin Jin & Yan Qiang & Zheng Che & Chunwu Wei, 2019. "Consortium Blockchain-Based Microgrid Market Transaction Research," Energies, MDPI, vol. 12(20), pages 1-22, October.
    24. Esfahani, Moein & Alizadeh, Ali & Cao, Bo & Kamwa, Innocent & Xu, Minghui, 2025. "Bridging theory and practice: A comprehensive review of virtual power plant technologies and their real-world applications," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 222(C).
    25. Matthew J Page & Joanne E McKenzie & Patrick M Bossuyt & Isabelle Boutron & Tammy C Hoffmann & Cynthia D Mulrow & Larissa Shamseer & Jennifer M Tetzlaff & Elie A Akl & Sue E Brennan & Roger Chou & Jul, 2021. "The PRISMA 2020 statement: An updated guideline for reporting systematic reviews," PLOS Medicine, Public Library of Science, vol. 18(3), pages 1-15, March.
    26. Rodrigues, Stefane Dias & Garcia, Vinicius Jacques, 2023. "Transactive energy in microgrid communities: A systematic review," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 171(C).
    27. Sam Fankhauser & Stephen M. Smith & Myles Allen & Kaya Axelsson & Thomas Hale & Cameron Hepburn & J. Michael Kendall & Radhika Khosla & Javier Lezaun & Eli Mitchell-Larson & Michael Obersteiner & Lava, 2022. "The meaning of net zero and how to get it right," Nature Climate Change, Nature, vol. 12(1), pages 15-21, January.
    28. Qianwen Li & Zhilong Chen & Jialin Min & Mengjie Xu & Yanhong Zhan & Wenyue Zhang & Chuanwang Sun, 2024. "Hybrid transaction model for optimizing the distributed power trading market," Humanities and Social Sciences Communications, Palgrave Macmillan, vol. 11(1), pages 1-13, December.
    Full references (including those not matched with items on IDEAS)

    Most related items

    These are the items that most often cite the same works as this one and are cited by the same works as this one.
    1. Kaiss, Mateus & Wan, Yihao & Gebbran, Daniel & Vila, Clodomiro Unsihuay & Dragičević, Tomislav, 2025. "Review on Virtual Power Plants/Virtual Aggregators: Concepts, applications, prospects and operation strategies," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 211(C).
    2. Lei, Yu-Tian & Ma, Chao-Qun & Mirza, Nawazish & Ren, Yi-Shuai & Narayan, Seema Wati & Chen, Xun-Qi, 2022. "A renewable energy microgrids trading management platform based on permissioned blockchain," Energy Economics, Elsevier, vol. 115(C).
    3. Sara Khan & Uzma Amin & Ahmed Abu-Siada, 2024. "P2P Energy Trading of EVs Using Blockchain Technology in Centralized and Decentralized Networks: A Review," Energies, MDPI, vol. 17(9), pages 1-17, April.
    4. Wang, Richard & Lam, Chor-Man & Hsu, Shu-Chien & Chen, Jieh-Haur, 2019. "Life cycle assessment and energy payback time of a standalone hybrid renewable energy commercial microgrid: A case study of Town Island in Hong Kong," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 250(C), pages 760-775.
    5. Huang, Junjie & Yu, Tao & Pan, Zhenning & Wu, Yufeng, 2025. "Distributed mix-integer game approach for local energy trading among multi-energy microgrids via best response method," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 324(C).
    6. Yohannes Biru Aemro & Pedro Moura & Aníbal T. de Almeida, 2020. "Design and Modeling of a Standalone DC-Microgrid for Off-Grid Schools in Rural Areas of Developing Countries," Energies, MDPI, vol. 13(23), pages 1-24, December.
    7. Sławomir Bielecki & Tadeusz Skoczkowski & Lidia Sobczak & Marcin Wołowicz, 2022. "Electricity Usage Settlement System Based on a Cryptocurrency Instrument," Energies, MDPI, vol. 15(19), pages 1-35, September.
    8. Javier Parra-Domínguez & Esteban Sánchez & Ángel Ordóñez, 2023. "The Prosumer: A Systematic Review of the New Paradigm in Energy and Sustainable Development," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(13), pages 1-44, July.
    9. Dall-Orsoletta, Alaize & Romero, Fernando & Ferreira, Paula, 2022. "Open and collaborative innovation for the energy transition: An exploratory study," Technology in Society, Elsevier, vol. 69(C).
    10. Ronaldo Silveira Junior, Jose & Conrado, Bruna R.P. & Matheus dos Santos Alonso, Augusto & Iglesias Brandao, Danilo, 2023. "Interoperability of single-controllable clusters: Aggregate response of low-voltage microgrids," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 340(C).
    11. Rodrigues, Stefane Dias & Garcia, Vinicius Jacques, 2023. "Transactive energy in microgrid communities: A systematic review," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 171(C).
    12. Paola Campana & Riccardo Censi & Roberto Ruggieri & Carlo Amendola, 2025. "Smart Grids and Sustainability: The Impact of Digital Technologies on the Energy Transition," Energies, MDPI, vol. 18(9), pages 1-16, April.
    13. Durillon, Benoit & Bossu, Adrien, 2024. "Environmental assessment of smart energy management systems at distribution level — A review," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 203(C).
    14. Longze Wang & Shucen Jiao & Yu Xie & Saif Mubaarak & Delong Zhang & Jinxin Liu & Siyu Jiang & Yan Zhang & Meicheng Li, 2021. "A Permissioned Blockchain-Based Energy Management System for Renewable Energy Microgrids," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(3), pages 1-19, January.
    15. Tariq, Abdul Haseeb & Amin, Uzma, 2025. "Peer-to-peer multi-energy trading in a decentralized network: A review," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 208(C).
    16. Mbungu, Nsilulu T. & Ismail, Ali A. & AlShabi, Mohammad & Bansal, Ramesh C. & Elnady, A. & Hamid, Abdul Kadir, 2023. "Control and estimation techniques applied to smart microgrids: A review," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 179(C).
    17. Spyros Theodoropoulos & Dimitrios Dardanis & Georgios Makridis & Patrik Zajec & Jože M. Rožanec & Dimosthenis Kyriazis & Panayiotis Tsanakas, 2025. "Enhancing robustness to novel visual defects through StyleGAN latent space navigation: a manufacturing use case," Journal of Intelligent Manufacturing, Springer, vol. 36(5), pages 3527-3541, June.
    18. Jiang, Kai & Xin, Baogui & Santibanez Gonzalez, Ernesto D.R., 2025. "Can industrial intelligence promote net-zero development? An analysis of resource dependence," The North American Journal of Economics and Finance, Elsevier, vol. 78(C).
    19. Ebers Broughel, Anna, 2019. "Impact of state policies on generating capacity for production of electricity and combined heat and power from forest biomass in the United States," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 134(C), pages 1163-1172.
    20. Bożena Gajdzik & Magdalena Jaciow & Radosław Wolniak & Robert Wolny & Wieslaw Wes Grebski, 2023. "Assessment of Energy and Heat Consumption Trends and Forecasting in the Small Consumer Sector in Poland Based on Historical Data," Resources, MDPI, vol. 12(9), pages 1-33, September.

    More about this item

    Keywords

    ;
    ;
    ;
    ;
    ;

    Statistics

    Access and download statistics

    Corrections

    All material on this site has been provided by the respective publishers and authors. You can help correct errors and omissions. When requesting a correction, please mention this item's handle: RePEc:eee:teinso:v:84:y:2026:i:c:s0160791x25002830. See general information about how to correct material in RePEc.

    If you have authored this item and are not yet registered with RePEc, we encourage you to do it here. This allows to link your profile to this item. It also allows you to accept potential citations to this item that we are uncertain about.

    If CitEc recognized a bibliographic reference but did not link an item in RePEc to it, you can help with this form .

    If you know of missing items citing this one, you can help us creating those links by adding the relevant references in the same way as above, for each refering item. If you are a registered author of this item, you may also want to check the "citations" tab in your RePEc Author Service profile, as there may be some citations waiting for confirmation.

    For technical questions regarding this item, or to correct its authors, title, abstract, bibliographic or download information, contact: Catherine Liu (email available below). General contact details of provider: https://www.journals.elsevier.com/technology-in-society .

    Please note that corrections may take a couple of weeks to filter through the various RePEc services.

    IDEAS is a RePEc service. RePEc uses bibliographic data supplied by the respective publishers.