Blockchain-based off-grid energy trading system to enhance the sustainability of less affluent communities in Indonesia

Affordable access to energy is one of the major challenges facing the world. More than 1.1 billion people lack access to power worldwide, including 125 million electricity in Southeast Asia, and some 30 million in Indonesia. The ever-expanding and improving mini-grid and micro-solar industry are looking to tackle this challenge. In order for mini-grids reach their full potential, innovation must play a part in both the technology and the business models in which they operate.

Under this Energy Catalyst, the Blockchain Climate Policy Studies Limited (a UK-based digital cleantech innovation business spin-off from the think tank - Blockchain & Climate Institute - registered in Estonia), Innovator 4.0 Indonesia Forum (an Indonesian NGO), and P.T. Energi Inovasi Desakota (an Indonesian renewable energy SME) are collaborating on a feasibility study to examine the potential of generating a new energy market around Distributed Ledger Technologies (DLTs), alongside a solar-powered clean energy mini-grid. As the kick-off project of our Blockchain for Future Energy Lab, the project will focus on how DLTs, like blockchain, and other smart technologies can accelerate access to clean and affordable energy for low-income households and communities in Indonesia.

The project will deploy three solar-powered mini-grid systems in both urban and rural Indonesia locations. It will produce data-intensive 'smart contract' proofs-of-concept with AI/Machine Learning facilitating the grid users to buy, sell, and trade electricity through a mobile application. The project will examine the impact that DLTs can have on the mini-grid operation, and on how the technology can impact the lives of end-users when compared to both previous electricity access methods, and other mini-grid operation and billing techniques. At the end of the entire pilot programme, we will transfer such infrastructure for newly established Women's Energy Cooperatives to sustainably operate and integrate it with wider community service delivery for maximising development impact and ultimately, achieving sustainability.