Hardware-Embedded Digital Twins for Advanced Monitoring and Management in Cyber-Physical Smart Grids with RERs and BESS Integration

To increase the operational efficiency of a smart grid and optimal utilization of renewable energy sources (RESs), real-time monitoring and control of smart grid systems is required. To address the issue, this study proposed a hardware-centric digital twin prototype for the monitoring and management of smart grid operations. The study focuses on real-time data acquisition and control using diverse sensors (voltage, current, DHT, ESP32 and fire sensors). Moreover, key components such as battery energy storage systems (BESS), photovoltaic (PV) panels, charge controllers, relays, MOSFETs, and sensors are used to design a hardware-based prototype. The proposed prototype provides the feature of real-time Internet of Things (IoT) based monitoring of electrical parameters (voltage, current, BESS state of charge (SoC), PV system power production, customer demand), environmental conditions, and remote load management. The key feature of the study is to develop a robust hardware-based system that continuously monitors and optimizes smart grid performance. This should also enable proactive fault detection (fire detection) and energy management. Moreover, the study also provides real-time load management and customer demand monitoring. The inclusion of BESS and PV panels promotes efficient energy utilization and renewable energy integration. Blynk IoT platform is used for real-time monitoring and management in combination with the ESP32 module. Collectively, this research advances smart grid technologies through innovative hardware solutions. It improves operational efficiency, reduces costs, and strengthens grid resilience.