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Utilities Business Review | Wednesday, November 02, 2022
A digital twin is a virtual depiction of equipment, processes, information, and physical assets.
Fremont, CA: The concept of digital twins isn't completely novel. It was first introduced in traditional forms for production and product lifecycle management multiple years ago. Nevertheless, digital twinning has been refined and extended with the adoption of evolved sensors, artificial intelligence (AI), and the Internet of Things (IoT) in this age of Industry 4.0.
A digital twin is a virtual depiction of equipment, processes, information, and physical assets. Data from different sources, comprising sensors, are synchronized to deliver real-time status. Therefore, the technology helps in the optimization of operations, the deduction of costs, and the execution of predictive maintenance capabilities.
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Over the years, the manufacturing, retail, and automotive industries have swiftly deployed digital monitoring and control solutions. Nevertheless, the systems are also advantageous to healthcare providers and utilities. For illustration, creating a virtual replica of the brain and heart is being investigated to speed up diagnosis and treatment.
Efficiency in Energy, Utility Apps
Decarbonization trends have followed in progress in clean technologies while stressing the significance of connected assets. The key advantages of digital twinning are enhanced physical asset performance and transmission efficiencies. Leading technology providers are uniting with utilities to speed up digital transformation.
Microsoft confirmed that Norway's electricity supplier Agder Energi utilizes Azure Digital Twins. The utility required to know how it could enhance grid and operational efficiencies. Device controls, distributed energy resources, and predictive forecasting are prominent tools that allow the transformation. This would permit the company to save money on unnecessary energy promotions.
Sensor technology, IoT, and smart platforms connect in digital twins. Operators can properly map physical assets into digital versions. Virtual reality is also a swiftly growing market, fueling innovation in utility management.
Renewable energy generation will supply ample prospects for virtual twin service providers owing to the need to function a wide range of physical equipment. For illustration, wind turbines, energy transmission and distribution (T&D) lines, and energy storage could all be assets.
Digital Twin of a Wind Turbine
Wind turbines must be created to last for decades. Consistent performance in the most difficult environments involves continuous monitoring, allowing us to avoid unexpected failures. Wind farms yielded more than 17% of the total generating capacity in the UK in 2018. The statistic shows that the renewables sector has huge potential for digital-twin industry players.
Before procurement and construction, GE previously disclosed a digital wind-farm idea for recording turbine configuration. Each wind turbine can communicate with its virtual twin, letting software-based performance optimization.
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