Access control mechanism in distributed smart power plants based on blockchain and ciphertext updatable functional encryption

With the advancement of smart power plants, electricity consumers are transitioning from a passive electricity consumption model to an intelligent consumption model. However, distributed power equipment and the vast amounts of electricity consumption data they generate pose significant information security risks. Traditional access control mechanisms cannot meet the security needs of distributed smart power plants. To address this issue, this paper introduces a distributed smart power plant access control mechanism based on blockchain and ciphertext updatable functional encryption. Firstly, the decentralized and tamper-proof features of blockchain technology ensure the integrity, transparency, and security of data transmission, effectively preventing data tampering and leakage. Secondly, by incorporating ciphertext updatable functional encryption, we guarantee data confidentiality and achieve fine-grained access control over electricity consumption data. This allows users to independently and precisely control data sharing and access. Furthermore, by deploying smart contracts with trust mechanisms on the blockchain, automated management of storage and access is achieved. Through a comprehensive evaluation of trust levels, trust values, and honesty, the system not only enhances its efficiency but also ensures that only legitimate entities can access data resources, thus preserving the utility of electricity consumption data. In addition, the adoption of decentralized unique identifiers on the blockchain for user authentication and authorization strengthens user privacy protection and data sovereignty. Lastly, experimental results demonstrate that this mechanism, while ensuring security, maintains a high level of efficiency, meeting the complex security requirements of distributed smart power plants.