U2Demo - Use of open-source P2P energy sharing platforms for energy DEMOcratization

The U2Demo project aims to advance the field of peer-to-peer (P2P) trading and energy sharing by introducing innovative, user-centric management strategies that foster widespread consumer participation in these mechanisms. The proposed strategies will engage active consumers, also referred to as prosumers, and promote equitable and democratic access to sustainable energy resources. These strategies will be seamlessly integrated into open-source tools and platforms adhering to principles of agnosticism, interoperability, scalability, replicability, reliability, security, and trust.

The tools and platforms will undergo rigorous testing through four pilot projects, including a Portuguese pilot in Évora, enabling the evaluation of advanced P2P trading and energy-sharing methodologies, the identification of optimal implementation conditions, and the consolidation of the most promising solutions and corresponding business models. The pilots will take place in four Energy Communities (ECs), each with distinct characteristics and governance models.

P2P trading and energy-sharing tools will take into account existing services managed by system operators, such as local electricity markets, demand response mechanisms (both implicit and explicit), and dynamic capacity and price contracts. Enhanced coordination with system operators will be proposed, including the exchange of information on P2P trading results and the reciprocal sharing of grid utilization factors by both Distribution System Operators (DSOs) and Transmission System Operators (TSOs). Furthermore, decision-support algorithms will facilitate consumer/prosumer participation in wholesale markets and system services, fostering negotiation and collaboration among peers and stakeholders to maximize operational advantages within the communities.

All information exchanges, offers, contracts, and coordination developed in the P2P trading and energy-sharing tools will adhere to existing standards (as well as those under development) and will be executed using blockchain/distributed ledger technologies. This approach ensures the trustworthiness and traceability of all actions carried out within P2P trading, which is essential to foster consumer engagement.

Lastly, social equity considerations will be integrated into the P2P mechanism, with the primary objective of alleviating energy poverty and democratizing access to sustainable energy resources. This multifaceted approach encompasses technological innovation, regulatory alignment, and a commitment to social equality, culminating in a holistic strategy that achieves its greatest impact when P2P trading is managed within ECs. Through this, the project aims to support the broader goals of the energy transition, ensuring inclusive and sustainable growth.