Digital Twin in Energy Internet and Its Potential Applications

Abstract

The development of information technologies such as the internet of things(IoT), big data, cloud computing, and artificial intelligence has made the global energy rapid advancement in digitalization and intelligence. Based on electric power systems, heat/cold supply networks and natural gas networks, the Energy Internet integrates multiple energy sources to form an interconnected and open energy platform. But the complexity and different characteristics of different energy grids make the planning and operation of Energy Internet placing higher challenges on digitization and intelligence. As a newly technology, Digital Twin aims at promoting the integration of the new generation information technology and manufacturing and better controlling of complex systems, which helps to solve the technical challenges of the current energy internet development. In this paper, the basic concept and development requirements of Energy Internet are firstly discussed, and the concept, technical connotations of Digital Twin are then introduced and summarized, the construction and possible applications of Digital Twin to Energy Internet are discussed.