Enabling Sustainable Energy Communities in ASEAN: A Systematic Approach to P2P Energy Transactions on Matakus Island Using IoT and Blockchain

Abstract This paper addresses the need for energy diversification and sustainable development in the ASEAN region by proposing a decentralized peer-to-peer (P2P) energy trading system. PowerChain, a peer-to-peer energy trading platform, is tailored as the designated medium for implementation. PowerChain harnesses the capabilities of blockchain technology and utilizes MQTT and HTTP protocols to ensure security, transparency, and user-IoT interaction. A case study was conducted on Matakus Island, a rural area in Indonesia with high solar power generation potential and a suitable demographic for the study. Currently reliant on diesel-based power generation, the island serves as an ideal location to evaluate the feasibility and benefits of transitioning to a RE-based P2P energy trading system. Based on simulations using 2 types of load and generation from peer providers, it was found that unused energy for type 1 was 815.9 kWh/year and for type 2 was 821.05 kWh/year. So the total unused energy from 10 peer providers on Matakus Island that can be transacted on the Powerchain platform is 1,636.95 kWh/year. This energy can meet the needs of Matakus Island for 93.7 days.In the platform simulation, three experiments were carried out, namely, single type transactions, multiple type transactions, and rejection of energy requests. From these three experiments, Powerchain was able to perform well, where the seller was successfully selected based on the closest distance, and if the closest selection could not be fulfilled, the seller would come from several nearby buyers. And when a selected peer is rejected, the existing algorithm can search for and select a replacement peer.The integrated approach presented in this study demonstrates the viability of using IoT and blockchain technologies to transform the energy market structure and accelerate the transition towards cleaner and more efficient energy systems in ASEAN.