Trust‐Aware Decentralized Blockchain Protocol for Secure Smart DC Microgrid Operation

ABSTRACT Smart DC microgrids are increasingly employed in modern power systems owing to their high efficiency and seamless integration with renewable energy sources, electric vehicles, data centers, and smart buildings. However, their reliance on communication networks and distributed controllers makes them highly susceptible to cyber‐attacks, which can adversely affect voltage regulation, power sharing, and overall system stability. To address these challenges, this study aims to develop a secure, real‐time, and decentralized cyber‐protection mechanism for Smart DC microgrids by enabling reliable event authentication, cyber‐attack detection, and decentralized coordination. Accordingly, a Decentralized Consensus‐Driven Blockchain Protocol (D‐CBCP) is proposed, in which blockchain‐based event validation supports reliable identification of malicious events across distributed energy networks. The proposed framework integrates blockchain‐based event validation with trust community‐based consensus and decentralized coordination, thereby eliminating dependence on centralized storage for power flow information, control commands, and fault notifications. The developed approach ensures secure information transmission, data integrity, non‐repudiation, and rapid isolation of malicious nodes while satisfying real‐time operational requirements. Simulation results and comparative analyses demonstrate the effectiveness of the proposed strategy, achieving an attack detection accuracy of 98.04% and exhibiting strong resilience against cyber threats. Overall, the D‐CBCP framework provides a scalable, reliable, and practical solution for enhancing the cyber‐physical security of next‐generation decentralized energy networks.