| Summary: | In the transition to a society with net-zero carbon
emissions, a high penetration of distributed renewable power
generation and a large-scale electrification of transportation and
heat are driving the conventional distribution network operators
(DNOs) to evolve to distribution system operators (DSOs) that
manage distribution networks in a more active and flexible way.
As a radical decentralized data management technology,
distributed ledger technology (DLT) has the potential to support a
trustworthy digital infrastructure facilitating the DNO-DSO
transition. Based on a comprehensive review of worldwide
research and practice as well as the engagement of relevant
industrial experts, the application of DLT in distribution networks
is identified and analyzed in this paper. The DLT features and
DSO needs are first summarized, and the mapping relationship
between them is identified. Detailed DSO functions are identified
and classified into five categories (i.e. “planning”, “operation”,
“market”, “asset” and “connection”), with the potential of
applying DLT to various DSO functions assessed. Finally, the
development of seven key DSO functions with high DLT potential
are analyzed and discussed from the technical, legal and social
perspectives, including peer-to-peer energy trading, flexibility
market facilitation, electric vehicle charging, network pricing,
distributed generation register, data access, and investment
planning.
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