This book examines the legal issues raised by the increasing use of blockchain technology in energy trading. Recent technological innovations are transforming the energy sector, and the integration of blockchain technology is a significant new development.
Focusing on decentralized energy trading – where energy is traded amongst prosumers and consumers on a blockchain-enabled digital platform – this book elucidates, defines, and analyses the legal challenges presented by this use of blockchain in the energy sector. Exploring major issues, such as privacy and security, and the implications of blockchain-based energy trading in the areas of tort law, property law, contract law, competition law, and data protection law, the book critically assesses the existing laws, regulations and policies in countries that are adopting, or working towards the adoption of, blockchain. While various policy initiatives to reform and liberalize the energy markets are underway, the current legal and regulatory frameworks of many countries are not, the book demonstrates, robust enough to facilitate the effective commercialization of blockchain-enabled decentralized energy trading. But, given the immense potential and benefits that this could bring to the energy sector, and based on its comprehensive analysis of the current situation, the book goes on to formulate a range of recommendations for legal reforms that might better facilitate the integration of blockchain-based applications in energy trading.
This book will be of interest to researchers, academics and postgraduate students in the fields of economics, trade law, energy law, property law, contract law and data protection law, as well as policymakers, regulators and practitioners in the energy sector, especially those focusing on the law and regulation of technology in the context of energy trading.
