A Blockchain-Based Smart Grid to Build Resilience Through Zero-Trust Cybersecurity

The current problem in addressing energy disruptions has highlighted the importance of energy network resilience by which energy suppliers (or power generation companies) can avoid disruptions or quickly manage and return to normal activity after being disrupted. Energy resilience is a fundamental capability in the security management of smart grids. Smart grids provide efficient communication between consumers and energy suppliers. Smart grids are exposed to many potential cyberattacks. Recent cyberattacks on Germany’s, Iran’s, and the United States’ energy distribution networks reveal how current energy infrastructures are weak regarding business continuity in times of cyber-disruptions. Emerging technologies such as blockchain can contribute to energy network resilience to provide a reliable and sustainable system. However, a lack of research exists to explore the potential role of blockchain in addressing energy disruptions. We propose a blockchain-based smart grid in which two mediators are introduced– peer-to-peer trading and zero-trust cybersecurity– to build business continuity in smart grids. In the proposed model, blockchain-based smart contracts are positively related to smart grid resilience. Moreover, peer-to-peer (P2P) energy trading, a novel strategy for energy management in smart grids, facilitates the implementation of a group of small consumers and producers into energy markets. The proposed blockchain-based smart contracts create peer-to-peer trading resulting in smart grid resilience. Finally, results showed that blockchain-based smart contracts significantly contribute to zero-trust cybersecurity, which results in a better capability to mitigate cyberattacks.