Design of a digital architecture supporting blockchain-based traceability within a Net-Zero Energy Factory. The case study of a German carpentry

Industrial facilities can generate electricity using volatile renewable energy sources (RES) and fully integrate it into the manufacturing process to be operated as Net-Zero Energy Factories (NZEF). Designing the latter requires identification, quantification and exploitation of all kinds of flexibility options to balance the volatility of RES power generation. Tracking the energetic footprint within NZEFs creates added value to the products manufactured. A blockchain-based digital architecture for increasing the transparency and traceability of the energy footprint within a German carpentry is proposed. The carpentry is designed and operated as a NZEF.