Digital twins in microgrid simulation and planning : modelling the electrical microgrid infrastructure of the Hybrid Laboratory

Abstract

This thesis investigates the theory of digital twins and how digital twins can be used to simulate microgrids. This work has been done as a part of EU project of Lifelong learning for energy, HVAC and power industries, and in collaboration with Oulu University Applied Sciences. The goal of the thesis is to explore how digital twins can be used in microgrid simulation, control and planning, how digital twins can be used in system sizing, and how it can help to optimize microgrids economically.

To achieve this, digital twin of Hybrid Laboratory microgrid from Oulu University Applied Sciences was developed in MATLAB. The development process of the model was used to assess the process of creating a digital twin. The resulting model was used to test out effects of changing the sizes of different components, how energy storage controller behaviour affects economic metrics, and how different types of battery technologies compare against each other in long and short term.

The conclusions of this thesis are that the digital twins are potent but involved tools. The planning and production of a digital twin should be taken early into consideration when building the physical counterpart. A functioning digital twin can create additional insight into the physical network and can be used to quickly map out system behaviour in hypothetical scenarios. Additionally, digital twin can be used in training and education to demonstrate principles that the physical twin uses.