Peer-to-peer local energy market: opportunities, barriers, security, and implementation options

The concept of the peer-to-peer local energy market (P2P LEM) is no longer novel to the energy community. Yet, its large-scale implementation within the current electricity network remains a complex challenge. One key reason is the lack of understanding of the supplier licensing models in different...

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Bibliographic Details
Main Authors: Jogunola, Olamide, Ajagun, Abimbola S., Tushar, Wayes, Olatunji, Femi O., Yuen, Chau, Morley, Craig, Adebisi, Bamidele, Shongwe, Thokozani
Other Authors: School of Electrical and Electronic Engineering
Format: Journal Article
Language:English
Published: 2024
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Online Access:https://hdl.handle.net/10356/178551
Description
Summary:The concept of the peer-to-peer local energy market (P2P LEM) is no longer novel to the energy community. Yet, its large-scale implementation within the current electricity network remains a complex challenge. One key reason is the lack of understanding of the supplier licensing models in different countries. For instance, in the UK, up to year 2023, a consumer is only allowed to have a single supplier at a time under its single licence supplier model. This directly contradicts the existing P2P trading models that allow a consumer to purchase electricity from multiple sellers within the local market. Given this context, this article conducts a review of recent literature and government policies in different countries on the P2P LEM and identifies the barriers behind the lack of large-scale P2P trading implementation in today's electricity markets. We explain how these barriers can be overcome by engaging prosumers in traditional and private distribution networks through either licensed or license-exempt suppliers. Particularly, we discuss six P2P LEM frameworks that can be utilised to address the supplier licensing issue. Finally, this review presents a summary of risks, and recommendations to aid the regulatory framework to implement P2P LEM.