Performance evaluation of a novel blockchain consensus mechanism (PoDIPA) for decentralized microgrid networks

Abstract

The increasing demand for sustainable and decentralized energy systems has driven the adoption of blockchain technology in microgrid networks. However, conventional consensus mechanisms, such as proof of work (PoW) and proof of stake (PoS), suffer from high energy consumption, limited adaptability, and fairness issues, which hinder their suitability for dynamic microgrid environments. This paper proposes a novel consensus mechanism, proof of dynamic influence and participation activity (PoDIPA), which integrates prosumers’ real-time participation activity and historical influence into the validator selection process. The proposed mechanism is evaluated through deterministic simulations and compared with PoW and PoS in terms of energy efficiency, transaction processing time, and security resilience. Simulation results demonstrate that PoDIPA significantly reduces average energy consumption and adapts more rapidly to network dynamics while maintaining security performance comparable to existing consensus mechanisms under majority attack scenarios. Although PoDIPA exhibits higher short-term variability due to its adaptive nature, the overall efficiency–stability trade-off remains favorable. These results indicate that PoDIPA is a promising consensus solution for supporting fair, energy-efficient, and decentralized energy trading in future microgrid systems.