Blockchain in the Energy Sector: An Advancing Technology to Tackle Global Climate Change?

Renewable energy sources became a key research focus in the field of global environmental governance. Within this context, new technical innovations seek to overcome challenges resulting from volatile renewable energy production and lacking storage capacities. Blockchain, a distributed ledger technology using cryptography, gained prominence as an integral component within the increasingly decentralized and digitalized global energy infrastructure.

Against this background, Alexander Freier argues that the application of blockchain technologies represents a viable option to both enhance the efficiency and balancing of renewable energy as well as to subsequently reduce GHG emissions if the following three components are met: the ongoing implementation of technological advancements, an adequate global normative framework, and general trust on behalf of key market actors to promote blockchain in the energy sector on a global scale.

Departing from an analysis of the relationship between climate change and energy, Freier conducts a legal analysis to explore possible ʼbottom-upʼ perspectives for the implementation and transfer of technological innovation derived from climate contracts. This analysis examines the technological infrastructure surrounding blockchain energy as well as its application to the Brooklyn MicroGrid in the US and the WindNODE trading platform in Germany from an International Relations perspective.

Alexander Freier studied Political Science and holds a doctorate in Global Studies from the University of Leipzig (Germany). He earned a Master double degree in Business Administration and Master in International Business Administration from the Catholic University of Cordoba (Argentina) and the European-University Viadrina Frankfurt/Oder (Germany). He is research professor of International Relations at the Catholic University of Cordoba (Argentina) and Research Associate at the Centre

for Blockchain Technologies at University College London (United Kingdom). Since 2021, he is also the person in charge of Strategy and International Affairs at the renewable energy engineering company Energiequelle GmbH (Germany).

His research focuses on the nexus between renewable energy and climate change policies. Since

2019 he is exploring the opportunities to implement blockchain-based solutions to the energy sector as well as their potential to serve as climate technologies. His most recent research project focused on the usage of renewable energy in order to enhance the sustainability of Proof-of-Work mining.

Professor of International Environmental Economics, Faculty of Business

Administration and Economics, European-University Viadrina Frankfurt/Oder, Germany

Professor of Business Studies, ICDA Business School, Catholic University of

Cordoba, Argentina