Energy system: National Digital Twin Programme (NDTP)
The demonstrator aims to model the island's electricity network, from the 132kV interconnectors to local 400V transformers.
Aim
- to test how digital twin-related technologies and processes can facilitate delivery of long-term policy objectives
- to aid the Isle of Wight in understanding how it can deliver on its ambition of becoming an Energy Autonomous Community, self-sufficient in electricity from renewable sources, and achieve their net-zero target by 2040
- to examine how digital twin-related technologies and processes can support improved delivery of regulatory requirements and strategic frameworks
Key stakeholders
The key stakeholders of this demonstrator are:
- Isle of Wight Council
- Scottish and Southern Electricity Networks
- Isle of Wight Energy Hub
- Developers
Outputs
The demonstrator will be used to test and refine the playbooks and tools developed in other NDTP demonstrator projects. Further outputs will be scoped shortly through an engagement and collaboration process with key stakeholders.
Description
The demonstrator aims to model the island’s electricity network, from the 132kV interconnectors to local 400V transformers.
Through the concept of a flexible marketplace that optimises controllable heating, storage, and e-mobility services, the tool will enable understanding of how better balancing of demand and generation could be delivered, as well as the potential for additional renewable energy sources to meet the island’s energy need.
At the core of this endeavour is the ability to test different scenarios in the digital space, and to begin to be able to answer crucial ‘what if’ scenarios.
Next steps
The commencement of the Energy System demonstrator development process necessitates the identification and understanding of the needs of key stakeholders, as well as the delineation of the central problems that require solutions. Through refining our understanding of these challenges, we can develop an optimal solution and draft an MVP, which will then progress into the testing phase.
The ethos of our approach is grounded in the principle of continuous refinement, cognisant of the reality that plans evolve and improve with practical application and feedback. It is with this mindset that we anticipate the Energy System demonstrator will contribute meaningfully to the energy sector’s transformation on the Isle of Wight, underpinning its ambitious goal of energy autonomy and attainment of net-zero targets.