Boosfeld, Johannes: Machbarkeitsanalyse eines an energetische Simulationen gekoppelten Smart Contracts zur Finanzierung von Energieeffizienzmaßnahmen an Gebäuden

Bachelor thesis

Feasibility analysis of a Smart Contract linked to energy simulations for the financing of energy efficiency measures in buildings

Since buildings account for around 35 percent of German energy consumption, concepts are needed that enable owners and operators of existing buildings to tap energy-saving potential without large investments (Umweltbundesamt, 2016) (Schäfer, 2016). One solution can be energy contracting. In energy contracting, an energy service provider (contractor) is contractually obliged by a client (contracting party/client) to implement energy conversation measures to save energy. One model of energy contracting is energy performance contracting. The contractor is responsible for the financing, planning and implementation of energy conversation measures. The contractor's income consists of the energy cost savings achieved (Schäfer, 2016). An energy simulation can be used as it is not possible to measure saved energy. Nevertheless, it can be very time-consuming to determine these proof of savings. In this sense, this paper presents a concept to link energy simulation models with Smart Contracts, which enable the automated generation of proof of savings. Smart contracts are not contracts in the legal sense, but programmed if-then conditions that trigger a predefined action (Jakob, Schulte, Sparer, Koller, & Henke, 2018). Since the program code is written on a blockchain, data and process integrity are guaranteed (Prinz & Schulte, 2017). The concept presented also allows small investors to participate in the investment in energy conversation measures, whose dividend is composed of the energy cost savings achieved.