Business model and market designs for solar prosumer on peer to peer energy trading in Thailand

Abstract

In recent years the power system is undergoing a rapid change from the traditional power system with large-scale power plants to small-scale distributed generations such as wind energy and solar photovoltaic system. In addition, the technology related to the electric business has been developed rapidly, such as solar power development technology, energy storage, and various communication and measurement devices, etc. The development of these technologies together with the reduced cost of technologies is the main factor in the transformation of the electric business model in many countries around the world, including Thailand to the way that electricity users turn from being consumers only to be both consumers and producers of electricity or called as prosumers. Also, it drives to the new paradigm: peer-to-peer electricity trading, where consumers and prosumers can buy or sell electricity locally. However, the concept of peer to peer energy trading is at early stage in Thailand. This study points out the benefits and barriers of peer to peer energy market based on reviewed existing peer to peer energy projects worldwide. The results of study show that the major regulatory barriers that restrictive to peer to peer market in most countries are the licensed energy supplier issue, network charging and no excess generation is fed back into the national grid.