Development of the Information System for Energy Resource Automated Accounting Using Blockchain Technology
Students Name: Yuziuk Volodymyr Serhiiovych
Qualification Level: magister
Speciality: Information Communication Networks Design and Administration
Institute: Institute of Telecommunications, Radioelectronics and Electronic Engineering
Mode of Study: full
Academic Year: 2024-2025 н.р.
Language of Defence: ukrainian
Abstract: The master’s thesis is aimed at researching and creating a decentralized information system for automated energy metering based on the use of blockchain technologies. The main objective of the study is to develop a technical solution capable of ensuring transparency, security, efficiency and economic feasibility in energy management processes. Such a system should function both at the level of individual microgrids and in the context of interaction between different users, providing an opportunity to distribute energy resources with maximum benefit and minimum cost, as well as in the interaction between users [1]. The development is based on the use of blockchain technologies, which allow avoiding the typical disadvantages of traditional centralized systems, such as vulnerability to attacks, low transparency, and high operating costs. The main emphasis is on creating a flexible and reliable system that can integrate with existing infrastructures and meet the requirements of security and economic efficiency in the energy sector [2]. The study confirmed the relevance of the transition to decentralized models of energy accounting and management due to the growing number of distributed energy resources, such as solar panels and wind turbines. The proliferation of DERs requires the creation of technological solutions that can effectively integrate them into the overall energy infrastructure to improve system performance, reduce costs, and ensure resilience to external and internal threats [3]. Blockchain technologies have been identified as an effective means of implementing such solutions, as they allow automating metering, distribution and settlement processes, while ensuring high transparency and data protection. The study of blockchain technologies included the analysis of consensus algorithms such as Proof of Work and Proof of Stake, as well as their modifications, which allowed to assess their efficiency, security and impact on the overall system performance. The paper focuses on the Ethereum platform as a technological basis for creating decentralized applications that support the automation of transactions between participants using smart contracts. The functionality of smart contracts in ensuring transparency of interactions, minimizing the risks of fraud and simplifying accounting operations is separately investigated [4, 5]. The prospects for the use of blockchain technologies, their advantages and challenges, including scalability, energy consumption, and problems of integration into the existing infrastructure, are also analyzed [6]. In the course of developing the information system, an architecture was created that ensures the accounting of energy microgrids, the organization of energy trade between users, and the integration of microgrids with centralized energy systems. Smart contracts were designed and implemented to automate key processes: accounting for transactions between users, interaction between microgrids, and coordination of the overall system operation. The project was implemented with the Hardhat development environment using the Ethers.js and Web3.js libraries. Special attention was paid to security, including auditing smart contracts using Slither and Etherscan tools. This allowed us to identify and eliminate vulnerabilities, including reentry attacks, logical errors, and suboptimal use of variables. Load modeling confirmed the system’s ability to function efficiently with an increase in the number of participants and the volume of transactions. The results of the study confirmed the advantages of a decentralized approach compared to centralized energy metering solutions. The economic analysis showed that the implementation of a system based on blockchain technologies significantly reduces the cost of energy accounting and management compared to traditional methods. The results obtained are of practical importance and can serve as a basis for the development of commercial solutions in the energy sector, as well as for expanding the functionality of blockchain applications in other industries that require transparency and reliability of accounting operations.