Energy markets are changing. They are now open to competition, households regularly generate electricity, and a necessity for more environmentally friendly modes of transport means electric vehicles are placing new demands on electricity grids. While these changes take place, electricity delivery must remain stable and affordable.
Sjors Hijgenaar proposes a radical response to these developments — decentralized smart grids and direct local trade. As part of his analysis, he develops an agent-based simulation of a Dutch neighborhood that uses a smart grid and local trade to show the benefits for efficiency and reliability. How can this work?