Dutch firm Introduces Proof of Concept for Autonomous Power Grid using IOTA

ElaadNL, Dutch Technology Company, has introduced a Proof of Concept (PoC) for a smart power grid for electric vehicles utilizing internet of things (IoT) concentrated on the IOTA Tangle technology. The update was announced by the company during the week.

As per the company announcement, the proof of concept would reveal the capability of smart grids not only to consume power but also to generate the same and efficiently redistributing it amid the community members.

The PoC formed at the ElaadNL test lab in Arnhem in association with the grid operator Enexis, exchanges information efficiently and safely through the IOTA Tangle process and allows the charging device to decide themselves whether they want to assist balance grid load or not. Further, such a system runs on its own and hence there is no need of any human interference.

Moreover, the charging stations have the chance to earn an IOTA token by charging electric vehicles at a slow pace or at an off-peak time. The announcement stated that “The grid in this PoC will connect all devices to a particular area of the grid, along with the transformer supplying energy. If one or more devices lowers its energy usage, they receive a few tokens of the IOTA cryptocurrency. ”

Harm van den Brink, distributed ledger technology (DLT) expert at ElaadNL stated that “This proof of concept shows a possible future electricity system, where energy is shared amongst neighbours and decentralized islands are capable of balancing itself. We are using our electricity grid in total different way than we did 50 years ago, we went from only consuming to also producing energy. We are demanding more energy at peak times, and when the sun is shining we will have a surplus of energy. This all should be dealt with in real time. Our solution is a first step in to that direction. We showed with our proof of concept that this can be done, although future development is required to actually put this in the grid.”

ElaadNL which was established in 2009 by a team of grid operators had come into existence with a motive to expand electric vehicle infrastructure and deliver efficient charging system to electric vehicles. Post formation, the company has successfully and efficiently installed around 3,000 public charging points within the Netherlands.

In last month, Energinet, a Danish state-owned energy company, extended its operation with distributed ledger network IOTA to monitor the usage of its technology in new places. IOTA’s product offering is specially equipped to IoT, and Energinet manages the forming of fresh solutions built on the IoT for developing phenomena, that includes green energy and electric vehicles.

During December of last year, ACCIONA Energía, one of the Spanish renewable energy company, had declared its intent to employ blockchain to recognize electricity generation. ACCIONA and software startup FlexiDAO have been working together with respect to the growth of a commercial demonstrator that would enable them to monitor the supply chain of inexhaustible electricity generation from the source of five wind and hydro facilities in Spain to four corporate customers in Portugal.