Abstract
Blockchain technology is currently one of the trends considered to have a tremendous future ahead. It ensures data security, data sharing protection and automation development—elements that are of colossal importance in the era of cloud solutions, big data and Internet of Things (IoT) reality. Additionally, blockchain technology allows one to create new programmable ecosystems on an unprecedented scale. The implementation of blockchain technology leads not only to improving the flow of documents and data storage, as is the case with the creation of shared service centers (SSCs), but—as this paper shows—allows one to reduce the carbon footprint when servicing SSCs at a considerably higher organizational level at the same time. The example of an SSC in Elbląg, Poland, proves that cloud solutions enabling electronic documents flow and data storage combined with blockchain technology are tools essential for further SSCs development. Furthermore, such tools allow us not only to obtain economic effects (i.e., cost reduction), but also to achieve positive ecological effects (i.e., carbon footprint reduction).
Highlights
In all the abovementioned examples, blockchain technology that assumes the transmission of data blocks is used to store and transmit information about transactions concluded on the Internet [19]
According to Yang et al, blockchain technology can be characterized by four main features: decentralization, consensus mechanism, traceability and high trust [20]
It has to be emphasized that the energy sector is not the only area where blockchain technology is currently used, or where it could be used in the near future
Summary
The EU’s concern about the problem manifests in many regulations among which the following should be mentioned: the communication of the Commission of the European Communities [1], which emphasizes the need to reduce energy consumption in the Member States by 20% by 2020 (compared to 1990). The goals of reducing energy consumption by the EU members have not been achieved; in 2011, the Commission had to revise them [3]. The revised assumptions were aimed at catching up and achieving the EU target of reducing energy consumption still by 20% compared to 1990 (but this time in the long run—by 2050, at the latest), and supporting the implementation of the low-emission economy based on efficient use of resources. With the additional help of numerous financial resources and programs aimed at minimizing the negative impact of human activity on the environment, including ever faster climate change, it is not surprising that the expert and scientific communities began to look for new methods that would prove to be more effective than before
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