Digitalization of urban multi-energy systems – Advances in digital twin applications across life-cycle phases

Abstract

Urban multi-energy systems (UMES) incorporating distributed energy resources are vital to future low-carbon energy systems. These systems demand complex solutions, including increased integration of renewables, improved efficiency through electrification, and exploitation of synergies via sector coupling across multiple sectors and infrastructures. Digitalization and the Internet of Things bring new opportunities for the design-build-operate workflow of the cyber-physical urban multi-energy systems. In this context, digital twins are expected to play a crucial role in managing the intricate integration of assets, systems, and actors within urban multi-energy systems. This review explores digital twin opportunities for urban multi-energy systems by first considering the challenges of urban multi energy systems. It then reviews recent advancements in digital twin architectures, energy system data categories, semantic ontologies, and data management solutions, addressing the growing data demands and modelling complexities. Digital twins provide an objective and comprehensive information base covering the entire design, operation, decommissioning, and reuse lifecycle phases, enhancing collaborative decision-making among stakeholders. This review also highlights that future research should focus on scaling digital twins to manage the complexities of urban environments. A key challenge remains in identifying standardized ontologies for seamless data exchange and interoperability between energy systems and sectors. As the technology matures, future research is required to explore the socio-economic and regulatory implications of digital twins, ensuring that the transition to smart energy systems is both technologically sound and socially equitable. The paper concludes by making a series of recommendations on how digital twins could be implemented for urban multi energy systems.