Gorbatcheva, Anna;
(2025)
Scalability of peer-to-peer energy trading markets: A case-based approach.
Doctoral thesis (Ph.D), UCL (University College London).
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Abstract
The uptake of decentralised energy resources (DER), such as small-scale solar photovoltaic systems, is transforming traditionally passive energy consumers into local electricity producers, with currently no incentive to actively engage in energy markets. In response, peer-to-peer (P2P) energy trading has been proposed as a mechanism to incentivise trading of energy and other ancillary services locally. Although first pilot projects are already underway, existing policies and regulations impose limitations on testing scalability and adoption of these market models, reducing their informative value. This research aims to understand how P2P energy trading systems can scale beyond the pilot stage while delivering social, technical and economic value. The exploration of scaling constraints is rooted in the contextuality of specific cases using deterministic modelling to explore how scaling interacts with the case’s context and objectives. A combination of empirical case-study data and model sensitivity analysis is applied to explore different market configurations and derive insights for scalable P2P energy trading system design. Detailed assessments were made of case studies in Colombia and the UK, both of which aimed to deliver social benefits to disadvantaged communities and increase access to DER. While the results of each simulation were heavily influenced by the local context of each pilot project, both cases revealed common socio-technical challenges in implementing scalable markets without regulatory exemptions. This research identifies a critical trade-off between individual and community benefits in P2P energy markets, finding that market designs often prioritise collective welfare over individual optimisation. In addition, the findings highlight that tariff structures play a key role in determining both the distribution of benefits and the economic viability of P2P systems. The equitable distribution of benefits among participants was also found to depend significantly on factors such as load and household characteristics. Finally, this research highlights the importance of modelling and simulation to address future challenges and limitations of P2P energy trading systems beyond pilot projects. Accurate analysis of the markets under scaling effects is necessary to enable future uptake of P2P energy trading markets.
| Type: | Thesis (Doctoral) |
|---|---|
| Qualification: | Ph.D |
| Title: | Scalability of peer-to-peer energy trading markets: A case-based approach |
| Open access status: | An open access version is available from UCL Discovery |
| Language: | English |
| Additional information: | Copyright © The Author 2025. Original content in this thesis is licensed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International (CC BY-NC 4.0) Licence (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0/). Any third-party copyright material present remains the property of its respective owner(s) and is licensed under its existing terms. Access may initially be restricted at the author’s request. |
| UCL classification: | UCL UCL > Provost and Vice Provost Offices > UCL BEAMS UCL > Provost and Vice Provost Offices > UCL BEAMS > Faculty of the Built Environment UCL > Provost and Vice Provost Offices > UCL BEAMS > Faculty of the Built Environment > Bartlett School Env, Energy and Resources |
| URI: | https://discovery.ucl.ac.uk/id/eprint/10208334 |
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