A P2P Electricity Negotiation Agent Systems in Urban Smart Grids

Peer-to-Peer (P2P) energy trading (ET) is a paradigm of energy trading between consumers without intermediaries. This model of ET allows the commercialization of energy resources produced through renewable sources that do not need other local consumers. This energy trading between consumers is able to improve the local balance of energy generation and consumption. Currently, this paradigm is being evaluated to show the suitability of its application in today’s society, significantly increasing the number of projects in this area worldwide. This article reviews the main models of application of this paradigm in smart cities, presenting the main characteristics of these approaches. This paper proposes an architectural model for P2P energy trading that solves the main deficiencies detected. The designed system allows the simulation of P2P processes using a novel negotiation model. This energy trading system is based on a Multi-Agent System (MAS) using the Robot Operating System (ROS). The system allows representing using independent agents each one of the zones that intervene in the process of negotiation of the energy of a city, being already representing a consumer’s role or a producer’s role of energy. The system has been tested on a model in which each zone uses real data about the role it simulates over a period of two and a half years. The preliminary results show how the energy trading market allows a smart city to evolve towards a high degree of sustainability.