Blockchain-enabled transactions

Overview of the status and impact of the innovation

Innovation 2

What

Blockchain technology is a distributed, digital ledger for verifying transactions. It can help manage automated EV charges using renewable energy, allow EV owners to seamlessly charge at any charging station (called eRoaming) and provide better access to data. It can also enable payment with offline digital “coins” in locations where neither the EV nor its owner’s phone has an internet connection.

Why

Blockchain can offer multiple advantages: it can automatically match the charging process with renewable energy purchases, and allow additional value streams, such as tracking, reporting and proof of renewable energy use. It also allows cost-efficient EV charge payments through digital identifiers or mobile wallets.

BOX 3.9 E-mobility blockchain applications

In 2018, TenneT launched two pilots with blockchain technology developed by IBM and administered by Vandebron to use electric cars and household batteries to help balance the grid. The technology has been scaled up and used to develop a platform called the Crowd Balancing Platform – Equigy. In the Netherlands, Equigy is being used in the automatic Frequency Restoration Reserve project. In Germany, TenneT is investigating the use of Equigy to adjust the operating schedules of power plants (TenneT, 2019).

Meanwhile, the Oslo2Rome initiative is using blockchain technology to create an “e-mobility wallet”. Oslo2Rome has proven that the technology can solve roaming problems for EV charging transactions across different countries in Europe. Its benefits include real-time transactions without middlemen, access and payment without contracts, and easy, cost-efficient asset integration and operation (Share&Charge, 2020).

Another project is the BANULA initiative supported by a consortium of 10 partners, including TransnetBW TSO, BBH, Badenova, Fraunhofer IAO, OLI Systems, Schwarz Gruppe, Smartlab and the University of Stuttgart. Its blockchain technology enables secure data exchange among all participants in charging networks, bringing significant improvements in energy management processes (Fraunhofer IAO, 2021).

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