ENEA patents real-time electricity auction technology

ENEA, through its Energy and Data Science Laboratory at the Portici Research Center, has patented a new hardware and software technology designed to allow real-time electricity purchasing. Described by researcher Girolamo Di Francia as an ‘eBay of energy’, the system enables users to auction individual consumption events, such as charging a device, to multiple suppliers who compete in real time to offer the most convenient price.

The technology utilizes the USB Power Delivery standard to automatically negotiate power requirements between devices and chargers. Once a device is connected, the hardware identifies the energy need and publishes it to an IoT platform. After the user or an automated procedure accepts the best offer, the electricity transfer is authorized.

Beyond cost savings for the consumer, the system aims to improve grid stability. The technology allows devices to communicate with the electrical grid, enabling them to renegotiate power requests or modulate consumption during periods of high stress or surplus renewable energy production.