Design and Specification of a Privacy-Preserving Registration for Blockchain-Based Energy Markets

Abstract

The challenges of climate change and the related demand to integrate non-plannable and weather-dependent renewable energy resources pose enormous challenges for the entire energy domain, e.g. in the context of grid control. These challenges reveal the need for new technical solutions and new business models while they indicate the required and inevitable transition to smart grids. Many blockchain-based solutions are being discussed in this context, ranging from peer-to-peer energy trading to grid-serving applications. However, especially in connection with public blockchains, clear security privacy challenges arise since the security and privacy of private data must be guaranteed while traceability must be avoided. Therefore, in this paper, we will specify privacy-protecting registration processes for blockchain-based flexibility markets that enable pseudonymous access to the latter. Furthermore, in collaboration with a governmental regulating institution named DGA, we will show that using an existing X.509-based PKI and RSA-based cryptographic processes, the integrity of all market participants can be guaranteed. This integrity is essential for the security-critical use of operating reserve. In addition, we will evaluate the specified processes in terms of efficiency, scalability, security, and privacy protection.