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Individual Green Certificates on Blockchain: A Simulation Approach

Author

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  • Fangyuan Zhao

    (Tsinghua-Berkeley Shenzhen Institute, Tsinghua University, Shenzhen 518055, China)

  • Xin Guo

    (Department of Industrial Engineering and Operations Research, University of California, Berkeley, CA 94720, USA)

  • Wai Kin (Victor) Chan

    (Tsinghua-Berkeley Shenzhen Institute, Tsinghua University, Shenzhen 518055, China)

Abstract

Distributed renewable energy offers an exciting opportunity for sustainable transition and climate change mitigation. However, it is overlooked in most of the conventional tradable green certificates programs. Blockchain shows an advantage of incorporating a galaxy of distributed prosumers in a transparent and low-cost manner. This paper proposes I-Green, a blockchain-based individual green certificates system for promoting voluntary adoption of distributed renewable energy. Combing the features of blockchain technology and the theories of social norm and peer effects, the novel green ratio incentive scheme and proof of generation consensus protocol are designed for I-Green. A blockchain simulator is constructed to evaluate the effectiveness and efficiency of I-Green system. The simulation results present its potential for facilitating widespread adoption of distributed generation, and confirm the feasibility of blockchain as the information communication technology (ICT).

Suggested Citation

  • Fangyuan Zhao & Xin Guo & Wai Kin (Victor) Chan, 2020. "Individual Green Certificates on Blockchain: A Simulation Approach," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 12(9), pages 1-32, May.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jsusta:v:12:y:2020:i:9:p:3942-:d:356744
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    Cited by:

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    2. Laurence L. Delina & Rainbow Yi Hung Lam & Wing Shun Tang & Ka Ying Wong, 2023. "Mapping the actor landscape of a future fintech-funded renewable energy ecosystem in Hong Kong," Journal of Environmental Studies and Sciences, Springer;Association of Environmental Studies and Sciences, vol. 13(3), pages 419-427, September.
    3. Feng, Yunting & Lai, Kee-hung & Zhu, Qinghua, 2022. "Green supply chain innovation: Emergence, adoption, and challenges," International Journal of Production Economics, Elsevier, vol. 248(C).
    4. Liu, Wei-Jen & Chiu, Wei-Yu & Hua, Weiqi, 2024. "Blockchain-enabled renewable energy certificate trading: A secure and privacy-preserving approach," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 290(C).
    5. Bastian-Pinto, Carlos L. & Araujo, Felipe V. de S. & Brandão, Luiz E. & Gomes, Leonardo L., 2021. "Hedging renewable energy investments with Bitcoin mining," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 138(C).
    6. Wang, Tonghe & Guo, Jian & Ai, Songpu & Cao, Junwei, 2021. "RBT: A distributed reputation system for blockchain-based peer-to-peer energy trading with fairness consideration," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 295(C).
    7. Oskar Juszczyk & Khuram Shahzad, 2022. "Blockchain Technology for Renewable Energy: Principles, Applications and Prospects," Energies, MDPI, vol. 15(13), pages 1-24, June.

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