The Mycorrho-grid - A Blockchain-based Mycorrhizal Model for Smart Solar Microgrids

The Mycorrho-grid is a blockchain based microgrid inspired by the way trees collect and distribute resources through mycorrhizal networks in the forest. It was first developed in conjunction with Virginia Tech’s grand-prize winning TreeHAUS entry in the 2019 Solar Decathlon Design Challenge and is expanded upon here with a focus on further potential for biologically inspired functionality. The baseline case as simulated in the competition is a 12-unit multi-family microgrid with a shared 50kW rooftop solar array and fixed price return from the grid. A framework derived from literature in mycorrhizal networks and the mathematical modeling of mycelial growth is developed to help transition the Mycorrho-grid from phyto-centric operation, where resources are exchanged based on the needs of the trees (energy producing and consuming households), to myco-centric operation, where resources are exchanged based on the needs of the fungal energy storage and distribution mechanism (local battery and centralized grid) with a larger environmental awareness.  This transition helps introduce an element of altruism into the larger grid network that the authors believe could improve overall reliability in response to regular outages and resilience in response to major outages. Degrees of decentralization and their implications for the security and fault tolerance of critical infrastructure are discussed along with strategies for simulating the efficacy of a mycorrhizal dynamic pricing algorithm moving forward.