Peer-to-Peer Electricity Trading of Interconnected Flexible Distribution Networks Based on Distributed Ledger

The condition of power imbalance in flexible distribution networks (FDNs) is deteriorated due to the high penetration of distributed generators. Through peer-to-peer (P2P) electricity trading, multiple regions interconnected by soft open points (SOPs) can flexibly exchange power to alleviate power imbalance. As the physical foundation of P2P transactions, SOP regulation guarantees accurate instruction execution. Besides, smart contracts based on distributed ledger technology (DLT) facilitate highly credible P2P transactions. Oriented for the economic operation of interconnected FDNs, this article proposes a DLT-based P2P electricity trading method based on intelligent SOP regulation. First, a smart contract is designed for P2P transactions of FDNs, in which trading solutions are automatically settled with a modified highest combined offer principle. Then, a trading platform is built for the P2P electricity trading of interconnected FDNs. Finally, the effectiveness of the proposed method is verified on a practical FDN with four-terminal SOPs in Tianjin.