A team of researchers and INTELLIGENT project participants from the University of Galway (Handy Borges Schiavon, Dayanne Peretti, Paulo Lissa and Marcus Keane) have published a peer-reviewed paper directly relevant to the core concept of the project. The paper, titled “Advances and challenges in P2P energy trading: A review of renewable integration and decarbonisation in Ireland”, is a conference proceeding from the CISBAT 2025 Hybrid International Scientific Conference, which took place in Lausanne, Switzerland, on 3–5 September 2025.
In the paper, the authors note that Peer-to-peer (P2P) energy trading is increasingly discussed as a way to rebalance electricity systems away from centralised, utility-dominated models and towards more decentralised, consumer-driven markets. This paper reviews how P2P energy trading has evolved globally and examines its specific relevance to Ireland, where ambitious decarbonisation targets are putting pressure on existing energy structures. By enabling consumers and prosumers to trade electricity directly, often sourced from local renewables, P2P models promise greater flexibility, local value creation and improved integration of distributed energy resources. The study situates P2P trading within Ireland’s longer energy transition, highlighting how the rapid growth of renewables has outpaced the regulatory and market mechanisms needed to fully exploit their potential.
Despite clear technical progress, the review shows that multiple barriers continue to limit real-world deployment. Ireland currently lacks a dedicated legal and regulatory framework for P2P energy trading, resulting in uncertainty around licensing, pricing mechanisms and grid participation. At the same time, user acceptance remains low, driven by limited public awareness, trust concerns and the perceived complexity of participation. Technical challenges such as grid constraints, metering requirements and settlement processes further complicate implementation, while pricing remains under-defined in the absence of clear rules. Together, these factors have slowed the transition from pilot projects and academic research to scalable, citizen-facing services.
Drawing on quantitative estimates and recent pilot experiences, the paper argues that the potential benefits of P2P energy trading in Ireland are nonetheless significant. Even modest participation rates could deliver measurable emissions reductions, reduce reliance on centralised generation and strengthen local energy communities. The authors conclude that realising this potential will depend on coordinated progress across regulation, technology and social engagement. Clearer policy signals, diversified technical approaches beyond a single platform or technology and sustained efforts to involve and empower consumers are identified as key conditions for success. In this sense, P2P energy trading is presented not as a standalone solution, but as an important component of a broader, more participatory energy transition.
You can read the paper in full here. Moreover, you can follow this link to the publisher’s open access DOI page.