Energy Internet: A Standardization-Based Blueprint Design

TL;DR

This paper proposes a standardization-based blueprint for the Energy Internet, enabling decentralized management of energy resources, reducing carbon emissions, and promoting energy democracy through a novel communication protocol.

Contribution

It introduces the concept of a Block of Energy Exchange (BEE) and Energy Internet Cards, establishing a standardized, decentralized framework for energy system management.

Findings

Reduces carbon emissions through peer interactions

Promotes energy democracy and equity

Decouples user behavior from system control

Abstract

The decarbonization of power and energy systems faces a bottleneck: The enormous number of user-side resources cannot be properly managed and operated by centralized system operators, who used to send dispatch instructions only to a few large power plants. To break through, we need not only new devices and algorithms, but structural reforms of our energy systems. Taking the Internet as a paradigm, a practicable design of the Energy Internet is presented based on the principle of standardization. A combination of stylized data and energy delivery, referred to as a Block of Energy Exchange (BEE), is designed as the media to be communicated, which is parsed by the Energy Internet Card. Each Energy Internet Card is assigned a unique MAC address, defining a participant of the Energy Internet, whose standardized profile will be automatically updated according to BEE transfers without the intervention of any centralized operator. The structure of Energy Internet and protocols thereof to support the transfer of BEE are presented. System operators will become Energy Internet Service Providers, who operate the energy system by flow control and dispatching centralized resources, which is decoupled from users' behaviors in the Energy Internet. Example shows that the Energy Internet can not only reduce carbon emissions via interactions between peers, but also promotes energy democracy and dwindles the gap in energy equity.