Digital twins for electrical energy systems

The energy sector already uses digital twins.

Digital twin technology is already randomly used in the energy sector. A 3-hour workshop was held, at the instigation of the Systems Committee for smart energy, to bring some clarity on the work accomplished by the different technical committees preparing standards in the area. Here are some of the key introductory points.<_o3a_p>

The workshop was kicked off by Pascal Terrien, the Chair of the Systems Committee (SyC) for Smart Energy, who explained his committee's purpose. "We strive to identify requirements for standards, to spot gaps and prevent any overlaps between the projects and the work done by different committees. We want to avoid any duplication," he said.

The SyC provides a communication platform, where TCs can exchange information and highlight their work, during events like this workshop, he added. The idea is for the SyC to work precisely on topics like digital twins, which are not standardized by only one committee. "We look at cross cutting topics and issues," he reminded the audience. Crucially, the SyC does not generally develop international standards but different systems reference documents.

The SyC is also an incubator looking at new areas of tech and interest. "For instance we are looking at smart hydropower and what needs to be done in the future to address this area. Do we need to create a new TC? Are some TCs already looking at this issue?" he listed.

Different definitions for digital twin

François Coallier, the Chair of IEC/ISO JTC 1/ SC 41, also introduced the work of his subcommittee, which has part of its scope dedicated to standardizing digital twin and which is generally involved in preparing foundational and horizontal standards for the Internet of Things (IoT). " The IoT is not a technology but a systems concept which uses many technologies like digital twin," he explained. His SC works closely with many other TCs, like TC 65, which prepares standards for industrial digital twins, and the SyC Smart Energy. "Cooperation is the name of the game," he insisted. "Our foundational standards are to be used by other TCs as they specify global architectures," he added.

Detlef Tenhagen is the convenor of the group inside SC 41 which is standardizing digital twin. He explained the six different standards developed by the group, which are horizontal, he said, and which can be adapted in vertical applications like smart manufacturing or transportation. He also gave his working group's definition of digital twin, as they are many different ones floating around. " A digital twin is a digital representation of a target entity with data connections which enable convergence between the physical and digital states at an appropriate rate of synchronization." He explained that this was the IT definition but that TC 65, which has defined digital twins for industrial use, has settled on "asset administration shell".

Other presentations were made by TC experts involved in the energy sector, including TC 57, which develops core standards for the smart grid, notably on the modelling of power systems with the electrical common information model, and energy automation devices with IEC 61850. An expert from TC 8, which among other things standardizes de-centralized electricity supply systems (e.g. microgrids and off-grid renewables) presented the work done on the modelling of renewable energy generation for power system dynamic analysis.

What are the next steps?

Next steps were defined, with the SyC agreeing to prepare an action plan by the end of the year, based on what was discussed in the workshop. Issues that need to be fixed will be identified and a systems referral document published in due course.

For more information, watch the full workshop.