Implementation of a smart energy meter using blockchain and Internet of Things: A step toward energy conservation

Abstract

The looming energy crisis is affecting every sector of the world. The dire need to conserve energy has compelled researchers to bring automation to the power sector. The conservation of energy is one of the biggest challenges Third-World countries are facing in general and in Europe due to the Russian–Ukrainian war. There is a need to introduce such systems that can prevent energy loss and let users buy and sell excessive electricity they have. In the field of power and electricity, the Internet of Things (IoT) plays an active role in the conservation of energy. The new concept of smart grids is widely used for efficient transmission. The technique of blockchain can further reduce the wastage of energy and efficient consumption if it is used with smart grids. This article proposes a smart energy meter based on smart grids and blockchain. The proposed implementation is a demonstration containing a few microgrids, each with its very own blockchain. The users will use energy by making transactions, following the smart contracts. The focus is on the peer-to-peer transactions in a microgrid controlled by blockchain. The architectural design outcomes are a smart energy meter, a smart contract on the Ethereum blockchain, and an android application to monitor and control transactions and energy trade via smart contracts with other consumers.