Digitalisation

Digital Twin: Virtual Replicas for Greater Efficiency

What does Digital Twins mean for sensors?

A digital twin requires sensors seamlessly integrated into IT and OT systems, providing data in real time and communicating with digital platforms. Creating a precise digital image necessitates monitoring numerous measurement points, from energy flows to environmental influences and system statuses.

The increasing demands on modern energy networks require intelligent, interconnected solutions to uncover and safely use existing energy resources in the grid. The basis for these smart, digital solutions is the digital twin—a dynamic, virtual representation of real systems, processes, or entire energy networks. Digital twins use big data, data analytics, and advanced algorithms, including machine learning and artificial intelligence, to enable end-to-end, data-driven processes from planning to operation and consumption.

With digital twins, the entire energy supply chain can be monitored, simulated, and optimised in real time:

• Energy generation, distribution, and consumption can be precisely coordinated.
• Fluctuations in renewable energy can be automatically balanced.
• Failures can be predicted, and predictive maintenance processes made more efficient.

Cloud computing is a key enabler, providing the high computing power essential for complex digital twins. Communication between the physical object and its digital twin requires infrastructure capable of near real-time data acquisition and processing. Standards such as IEC 61850 support this by offering standardised metadata and object-oriented structures for system integration in energy systems.

Digital Identity: Security and Trust in a Connected World

As connectivity grows, so do demands on cybersecurity and data protection. A secure digital identity ensures the integrity and confidentiality of sensitive data across the energy sector. All actors—from energy producers and grid operators to consumers—must be clearly identifiable and authorised to access systems and data. Modern authentication and encryption technologies guard against cyberattacks and support a secure, trustworthy digital transformation.

Digital Future: Innovations for a Sustainable and Efficient Energy World

The digital future of the energy sector is shaped by innovations such as artificial intelligence, cloud computing, and new business models. These enable smarter control of energy flows, automated processes, and personalised services for businesses. Industrial digitalisation reduces the cost of grid expansion, accelerates the path to climate neutrality, and supports the energy transition.