Management of active distribution grids using a distributed digital twin architecture

This paper introduces a distributed Digital Twin architecture that enables low-voltage grids' flexible, resilient, autonomous, and data-driven operation. It uses containerised microservices orchestrated by Kubernetes, edge computing in local substations on industrial hardware and established data modelling and communication standards such as IEC 61360, CIM CGMES, IEC 61850, IEC 62056-6 and Modbus. Furthermore, the Digital Twin adapts the Asset Administration Shell from Industrial Digital Twin Association to power systems and uses it as a single source of truth for grid data, asset data and real-time measurements from local substations, cable distribution cabinets and smart meters. The process of the Distribution System Operator applying a state estimation as a service is demonstrated. It highlights the flexibility of interacting with the Digital Twin and its ease of deploying services to either central servers or decentralised edge devices, thereby increasing the resilience of the system operation. Finally, the Digital Twin and its capability to enable the active operation of distribution grids alongside Distribution System Operators' interaction are evaluated according to qualitative requirements.