Blockchain, IoT, and Smart Grids Challenges for Energy Systems

In this work, we performed a literature review on this emergent topic and reviewed the significant contributions made in recent years to the fields of blockchain, IoT, and smart grids, and how they can transform the energy sector by enhancing the security, efficiency, and transparency of energy transactions. We have selected papers from journals based on provided keywords on the theme. One of the main challenges with using blockchain in energy is scalability. Large-scale energy systems require a high volume of transactions, which is a burden for the blockchain technology available today. This is an active area of research and development, with various solutions proposed, such as sharding and off-chain transactions, to increase the scalability of blockchain. Smart grid integration presents additional challenges in the areas of cybersecurity, data anonymization, and privacy. Given the volume of data generated by IoT devices, it is crucial to make sure that it is shielded from unauthorized access, careless behavior, and cyberattacks. Additionally, to ensure that data can be transferred securely and effectively, new communication protocols and standards must be developed for the integration of IoT and smart grids. Standardization presents a third difficulty, given that the integration of these technologies demands the creation of shared standards and protocols to guarantee interoperability among various systems, networks, and devices. Finally, regulatory and legal frameworks also play a critical role in the development and implementation of these technologies in the energy sector. As these technologies are still relatively new and given the energy widespread in many areas of society, the regulatory and legal frameworks are still being developed and may not be fully in place to support their widespread adoption. It is now crucial that a large number of actors from science, business, decision-making, and civil society get involved in the energy transition, along with the energy experts and stakeholders. The blockchain, IoT, and smart grids are key.