Modular Design and Real-Time Simulators Toward Power System Digital Twins Implementation

Power system digital twins (PSDTs) are foreseen as an essential step toward future grids that will positively affect network monitoring, operation, and planning across the whole power industry. Existing frameworks for developing a DT are bounded to particular power system components, applications and/or users. This article proposes a modular framework for the implementation of PSDTs that is flexible, robust, and cost-effective. The modularity in design enables the expansion of the twin beyond power system components and facilitates the integration of multiple services and users, without affecting the functionality of existing modules. Each module can be independently built, modified, replaced, or exchanged with other modules, unlocking multiple, more advanced, dedicated, and multidomain applications for the operation and planning of power systems. The first step toward a PSDT is illustrated based on a real-time compatible model of the Australian National Electricity Market. The model can be seen as the core of one or more distinct modules in the DT, which can be adapted and scaled for particular applications. The EMT real-time compatible model is employed to demonstrate four potential services, including renewable energy integration and “what-if” scenario cases, which are expected applications in forward-looking PSDTs.