The project begins with a detailed review of existing distributed ledger technology (such as blockchain) and smart contracts, with particular focus on the energy sector; and a study of their design, deployment and interfaces.
It then proceeds to demonstration software and hardware implementation, in a simulation environment, enabling DNO engineering and commercial staff to gain experience and understanding of DLT applications.

The project has high potential for new learning, in particular:

• Know-how relating to the architecture and detailed implementation of smart contract systems
• Understanding of a broad range of potential applications including wayleave, asset management, peer to peer trading, and balancing services

Consideration of information flows required to produce effective decision support algorithms

• Feasibility for future real application to the UK network (for example, EV smart charging platforms)
• Scalability of DLT technology and mapping out the pathway for Network implementation

What we achieved so far:

• In-depth review is delivered covering DLT platforms, smart contract development and activity in the energy sector, providing clear description of current research landscape in the sector

What we are aiming to learn:

• Developed, tested and verified the performance of smart contracts encoding rules for DSO-DSO and DSO-DER interactions
• A study on the optimal adoption path for DLT solutions within the networks industry