Volume 67

Smart Switching for Hybrid Fiat–Token Settlement in Renewable P2P Trading: The EnergiRING Coin Approach on the realSES Platform Atefeh Alghasi, Amir Safari

Abstract

Peer-to-peer (P2P) electricity trading has the potential to enhance the integration of renewable energy, increase flexibility, and bolster community resilience; however, the design of settlements still poses a significant challenge. Traditional fiat systems incur ongoing banking and payment service charges, while generic cryptocurrencies carry risks of volatility and systemic issues. This paper introduces EnergiRING Coin, an energy-linked settlement token that is incorporated into the realSES platform, along with a hybrid co-settlement strategy that switches between fiat and token depending on marginal cost differences, employing a brief cooldown period to avoid oscillations. We carry out a year-long agent-based simulation (8,760 hourly intervals; 2,000 diverse agents) under deterministic disturbances, including two significant cryptocurrency crashes, a market rally, and repeated spikes in fiat fees. The physical clearing (hence total welfare) remains unchanged across different regimes, but net results vary: the fiat-only model is inefficient due to fees, the token-only model fails during shocks, and the hybrid model consistently achieves positive net welfare, reduced inequality, and enhanced resilience; not only avoiding losses during downturns but also capturing additional gains during token price rallies. These findings elevate the concept of settlement from a mere back-office function to an essential market-design tool for maintaining stable, efficient, and low-carbon P2P trading, positioning EnergiRING Coin as a viable method to synchronize financial flows with renewable generation and demand-side adaptability.

Keywords energy P2P trading, energy market, blockchain, renewable energy, EnergiRING Coin