Data Monetization in the Energy System and its Role in the Development of a Customer-Oriented Power Grid

Abstract

Driven by the plan for a more sustainable energy system and to meet climate goals, the expansion of renewable energy sources in Germany is being continued on a continuous basis. Unlike fossil energy carriers, renewable energy sources are not continuously available. Therefore, the energy system must become more flexible in order to react to the fluctuating energy supply. The end customer as a new actor in the energy market will play a central role here. The liberalization of the energy markets, the initial promotion of distributed generation from renewable energy sources and the increasing digitalization, above all the beginning smart meter rollout, make it possible for end customers to participate actively in the energy markets for the first time. The networking of all actors in the energy sector allows the establishment of new energy markets, which enable a more efficient integration of renewable energy sources into the existing system. These energy markets will increasingly be limited to certain regions and will focus on the distribution networks. A scalable, secure and traceable market implementation is required due to the large number of new market players through the involvement of end customers. The developments in the field of Distributed Ledger Technology (DLT) appear to be particularly suitable for this purpose. This chapter of the book explains these aspects on the basis of two case studies of innovative energy markets based on DLT.

Flexibility requires a functioning ICT infrastructure and new market mechanisms

— Dr.-Ing. Hans Heinz Zimmer, Chairman of the Board of the Association of Electrical, Electronic and Information Technologies e. V. (VDE).