The world, including developed and developing countries, is gradually switching to renewable energy sources (RES), and Egypt is among them. A significant energy transition occurs in the Egyptian population with in-house battery storage systems, and the state is politically supporting this process (Gabr et al., 2020). However, “the large-scale amalgamation of intermittent RES causes reliability and stability distress in the electric grid” (Datta et al., 2020, p. 1). The current moment provides a unique business opportunity to implement a community-level battery storage system based on blockchain technology that would provide sustainable electricity for the Egyptians and contribute to the development of new RES infrastructure.
The rationale for this project lies in a gradually accelerating energy transition, which, if not adequately addressed, could lead to power outages and malfunctioning of the energy infrastructure in the country. The fields of blockchain technology and battery storage systems have just started to interact (Deign, 2018). However, one can safely say that some progress has been achieved as models of community battery storage systems where market transactions are carried out through blockchain software already exist (Truong et al., 2018). The proposed enterprise is expected to provide affordable, simple, innovative, safe, and sustainable energy infrastructure. A flexible and responsive community battery storage system would be developed through novel software and high-tech hardware to provide electricity to urban and rural Egyptian residents. Similar models already exist; however, a centralized one that allows its customers to buy battery storage resources online and pay for them at any stage of purchase and delivery has not yet been developed.
As noted above, researchers and business people are already experimenting with these two technological phenomena and putting the newly developed energy frameworks into practice. The innovation and originality of this proposed blockchain-based community battery storage system lie in its approach to electricity consumers. The project proposed here would provide its future consumers with new infrastructure, comfort use, quality service, and safety in exchange for just one traditional resource: money.
One can safely say that the proposed blockchain-based community battery storage system has some unique features. Its comparative advantages are the flexibility of its online payment system, innovative software, and the fact that future customers would no longer have to spend a lot of time dealing with their in-house battery storage systems. Its only weakness is its heavy reliance on its digital side. It would be problematic for future consumers to pay for and receive energy products without an online connection. The current global attitude towards electricity and energy resources is beneficial for the proposed blockchain-based community battery storage system. It might even be possible to obtain additional funding from multinational organizations to implement and introduce the described project into the existing energy infrastructure of Egypt. The fear of some residents of a partial loss of their energy independence is the only threat identified here. The described project would have a significant advantage in convenience and accessibility for its customers.
The innovative blockchain-based community battery storage system has already passed the first initiation stage and is in its planning phase. Major concepts and ideas regarding material equipment, digital software, and their interactions were thought out and formulated, and minor details such as perceptions and reactions of potential customers were analyzed. RES and related technologies are a global topic, so is the growth potential of the proposed project. Quickly entry into international markets is possible but would not be easy, as this field is rapidly filling up with new market players. Technological implementation of the proposed energy system is possible as RES and blockchain technology are well-researched scientific areas, and several potential big investors friendly towards green tech already exist.
References
Datta, U., Kalam, A., & Shi, J. (2021). A review of key functionalities of battery energy storage system in renewable energy integrated power systems. Energy Storage, 3(5), 1-21. doi:10.1002/est2.224
Deign, J. (2018). Battery storage comes to the blockchain. Greentech Media. Web.
Gabr, A. Z., Helal, A. A., & Abbasy, N. H. (2021). The viability of battery storage for residential photovoltaic system in Egypt under different incentive policies. International Transactions on Electrical Energy Systems, 31(2), 74977-74988. doi:10.1002/2050-7038.12741
Truong, C. N., Schimpe, M., Bürger, U., Hesse, H. C., & Jossen, A. (2018). Multi-use of stationary battery storage systems with blockchain based markets. Energy Procedia, 155, 3-16.