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Systematic analysis of the blockchain in the energy sector: Trends, issues, and future directions

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  • Ma, Chao-Qun
  • Lei, Yu-Tian
  • Ren, Yi-Shuai
  • Chen, Xun-Qi
  • Wang, Yi-Ran
  • Narayan, Seema

Abstract

The decentralized revolution being ushered in by blockchain, an emerging technology with the potential to bring significant innovation and benefits, has also piqued the interest of major players in the energy supply industry, financial institutions, technology developers, academia, and national governments. How the deep integration of blockchain and energy will impact energy’s prospects and the energy market remains an open question. This study conducts a composite of qualitative and quantitative analyses of 622 selected articles on blockchain in the energy field. It is dedicated to identifying feasible technical paths and potential themes. The results show that (1) Research in this field follows two main approaches: engineering- and management-oriented. (2) Management-oriented research has become mainstream. (3) Research has led to new transaction systems, and the commercialization of energy blockchains has driven research iterations. Thematic predictions call for more attention to the negative impacts of technology, such as new business risks, the problem of lagging regulations, and the drawbacks of high energy consumption. This study provides research references and practical suggestions for researchers, regulators, and enterprises.

Suggested Citation

  • Ma, Chao-Qun & Lei, Yu-Tian & Ren, Yi-Shuai & Chen, Xun-Qi & Wang, Yi-Ran & Narayan, Seema, 2024. "Systematic analysis of the blockchain in the energy sector: Trends, issues, and future directions," Telecommunications Policy, Elsevier, vol. 48(2).
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:telpol:v:48:y:2024:i:2:s030859612300188x
    DOI: 10.1016/j.telpol.2023.102677
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