MicroTrust: Empowering Microgrids With Smart Peer-to-Peer Energy Sharing Through Trust Management in IoT

The global surge in population, coupled with the continuous emergence of new digital devices, has significantly increased the worldwide demand for electricity, intensifying the existing energy crisis. Microgrids are pivotal in addressing the current needs of utility industries and driving innovation. However, numerous challenges remain, particularly in developing countries where inadequate infrastructure hampers electricity generation, transmission, and distribution. A potential solution lies in energy sharing, which offers mutual benefits to both microgrid operators and consumers. The integration of Internet of Things (IoT) technology within microgrids enhances real-time monitoring and management of energy resources, thereby improving both efficiency and reliability. Microgrids have the capability to share electricity resources with other microgrids, local communities, or contribute surplus energy to the national grid. However, maintaining the integrity of participants in these energy exchanges is crucial. It is necessary to distinguish between trustworthy and potentially malicious microgrids or consumers. To address this issue, the implementation of a MicroTrust mechanism is proposed. The results demonstrate that MicroTrust effectively evaluates the trustworthiness of CCs and various requesting consumer nodes, providing a robust solution for secure and reliable energy sharing.