Energy resource network

Abstract

An energy resource network with plurality of energy resources) each capable of delivering a quantum of energy; and a plurality of energy-consuming-devices each capable of accepting a quantum of energy. Each energy resource is associated with an energy-resource-processor which is configured to issue one or more offer-messages in respect of a quantum of energy available for supply from the energy resource Each energy-consuming-device is associated with at least one energy-consuming-processor) that is configured to receive one or more offer-messages in respect of a transaction for receiving a quantum of energy from one of the energy resources The energy-resource-processor and/or the energy-consuming-processor being configured to issue a cryptographically-secured transaction record of the transaction for inclusion within a publicly-available distributed ledger.

1 . An energy resource network comprising:
 a plurality of energy resources each capable of delivering a quantum of energy;   a plurality of energy-consuming-devices each capable of accepting a quantum of energy;   each energy resource being associated with an energy-resource-processor configured to issue one or more offer-messages in respect of a quantum of energy available for supply from the energy resource;   each energy-consuming-device being associated with an energy-consuming-processor configured to receive one or more offer-messages in respect of a transaction for receiving a quantum of energy from one of the energy resources; and,   the energy-resource-processor and/or the energy-consuming-processor being configured to issue a cryptographically-secured transaction record of the transaction for inclusion within a publicly-available distributed ledger.   
     
     
         2 . The energy resource network of  claim 1 , further comprising a plurality of third party nodes, each configured to locally store and maintain the publicly-available distributed ledger. 
     
     
         3 . The energy resource network of  claim 2 , wherein the third party nodes are each configured to identify, and store locally, a correct version of the publicly-available distributed ledger as the version of the publicly-available distributed ledger that is most commonly stored on the plurality of third party nodes. 
     
     
         4 . The energy resource network of  claim 1 , further comprising a third party node configured to:
 perform a verification routine on one or more cryptographically-secured transaction records; and,   only add the one or more cryptographically-secured transaction records to the publicly-available distributed ledger if the verification routine is successful.   
     
     
         5 . The energy resource network of  claim 4 , wherein the third party node is configured to perform the verification routine by processing the publicly-available distributed ledger in order to determine whether or not an energy resource associated with the transaction has sufficient energy to perform the transaction. 
     
     
         6 . The energy resource network of  claim 4 , wherein the third party node is configured to perform the verification routine by processing the publicly-available distributed ledger in order to determine whether or not an energy resource associated with the transaction has sufficient energy-generating capacity available to perform the transaction. 
     
     
         7 . The energy resource network of  claim 6 , wherein the publicly-available distributed ledger comprises a balance of available energy-generating capacity or energy available for each energy resource, and wherein the third party node is configured to determine whether or not an energy resource associated with the transaction has sufficient available energy-generating capacity or energy to perform the transaction by comparing at least part of the transaction record with the balance of available energy-generating capacity or energy available for the energy resource associated with the transaction. 
     
     
         8 . The energy resource network of  claim 1 , wherein the publicly-available distributed ledger comprises a plurality of blocks of data, wherein each block of data comprises information representative of:
 one or more transaction records; and,   a cryptographic hash value of at least a part of a previous block in the ledger.   
     
     
         9 . The energy resource network of  claim 8 , wherein the publicly-available distributed ledger comprises a block chain. 
     
     
         10 . The energy resource network of  claim 8 , further comprising a third party node configured to:
 process one or more cryptographically-secured transaction records; and,   determine a new block of data for the publicly-available distributed ledger by determining the cryptographic hash value by applying a hash algorithm to at least a part of a previous block in the publicly-available distributed ledger.   
     
     
         11 . The energy resource network of  claim 7 , wherein the third party node is configured to determine the cryptographic hash value by applying the hash algorithm to:
 at least a part of an immediately preceding block in the ledger;   the one or more transactions; and,   a cryptographic nonce value.   
     
     
         12 . The energy resource network of  claim 11 , wherein the third party node is configured to:
 generate cryptographic hash values for a plurality of different cryptographic nonce values;   identify a determined cryptographic hash value as valid if it satisfies one or more predetermined characteristics; and,   broadcast a new block of data, comprising the valid cryptographic hash value, for inclusion in the publicly-available distributed ledger.   
     
     
         13 . The energy resource network of  claim 10 , wherein the part of the immediately preceding block in the ledger is the cryptographic hash value of the immediately preceding block in the ledger. 
     
     
         14 . The energy resource network of  claim 1 , wherein one or more of:
 the issue of offer-messages by the energy resource via the network;   an acceptance of offer-messages by the energy consuming devices;   an issue of acceptance-messages by the energy consuming devices in acceptance of an offer-message;   processing of acceptance-messages by a third party for inclusion in a cryptographically-secured, publicly-available distributed ledger of acceptance-messages; and,   a physical exchange of energy between the energy resource and the energy consuming device are controlled based on a cryptographically-secured, publicly-available distributed ledger of acceptance-messages and a cryptographically-secured, publicly-available distributed ledger of transactions.   
     
     
         15 . The energy resource network of  claim 1 , wherein the energy-resource-processors are configured to automatically issue an offer-message if an available amount of energy, or an available capacity for providing energy, exceeds a high-energy-threshold level. 
     
     
         16 . The energy resource network of  claim 1 , wherein the energy-consuming-processors are configured to automatically accept or reject an offer-message by comparing one or more pieces of information of the offer-message with one or more predetermined acceptance-criteria. 
     
     
         17 . The energy resource network of  claim 1 , wherein the processor of each energy-consuming-device or each energy resource is configured to generate the cryptographically-secured transaction record using a private key. 
     
     
         18 . The energy resource network of  claim 1 , wherein the transaction record comprises information representative of an acceptance of the quantum of energy and/or a debit of an account associated with the energy-consuming-device. 
     
     
         19 . The energy resource network of  claim 1 , wherein each offer-message comprises information representative of one or more of: a quantum of energy; a generating capacity of the energy resource; a time window; a price. 
     
     
         20 . The energy resource network of  claim 1 , wherein the energy-resource-processor of each energy resource is configured to issue a cryptographically-secured offer record for inclusion within a publicly-available distributed ledger. 
     
     
         21 . The energy resource network of  claim 1 , further comprising a metering apparatus configured to generate a cryptographically-secured transaction record of metered units of energy transferred between an energy resource and an energy-consuming-device counterparties. 
     
     
         22 . An energy-consuming-device configured to consume quanta of energy from one or more energy resources, the energy-consuming-device comprising:
 an energy-consuming-processor configured to:
 (i) receive offer-messages in respect of quanta of energy available for supply from one or more energy resources; and, 
 (ii) in response to accepting an offer-message in respect of a transaction for receiving a quantum of energy from one or more of the energy resources, issue a cryptographically-secured transaction record of the transaction for inclusion within a publicly-available distributed ledger. 
   
     
     
         23 . An energy resource configured to deliver quanta of energy to one or more energy-consuming-devices, the energy resource comprising:
 an energy-resource-processor configured to:
 (i) issue offer-messages in respect of quanta of energy available for supply from the energy resource; and, 
 (ii) in response to having an offer-message in respect of a transaction for delivering a quantum of energy to an energy-consuming-device accepted, issue a cryptographically-secured transaction record of the transaction for inclusion within a publicly-available distributed ledger. 
   
     
     
         24 . A device for updating a publicly-available distributed ledger for an energy resource network, the network comprising:
 a plurality of energy resources each capable of delivering a quantum of energy;   a plurality of energy-consuming-devices each capable of accepting a quantum of energy;   each energy resource being associated with an energy-resource-processor configured to issue one or more offer-messages in respect of a quantum of energy available for supply from the energy resource each energy-consuming-device being associated with an energy-consuming-processor configured to receive one or more offer-messages in respect of a transaction for receiving a quantum of energy from one of the energy resources; and,   wherein the device is configured to receive, from the energy-resource-processor and/or the energy-consuming-processor, a cryptographically-secured transaction record of the transaction and include said record within a publicly-available distributed ledger.   
     
     
         25 . A method of operating an energy resource network, the energy resource network comprising:
 a plurality of energy resources;   a plurality of energy-consuming-devices;   wherein an energy resource issuing one or more offer-messages in respect of a quantum of energy available for supply from the energy resource;   wherein an energy-consuming-device receiving one or more offer-messages in respect of a transaction for receiving a quantum of energy from one of the energy resources; and,   wherein issuing a cryptographically-secured transaction record of the transaction for inclusion within a publicly-available distributed ledger.