The report, titled “Digital Twins: Model, Shadow, Twin – The Case for Policy Uses,” emphasises the potential of digital twin technologies to present complex energy systems to policymakers and other stakeholders in a straightforward and understandable manner.

The government and regulators should continue investigating the use of digital twin technologies for policy development and testing, according to the report. To democratise the policymaking process, it is suggested that an open-source digital model or phantom capability be developed and made accessible to all. 

The report also highlights the potential benefits of using digital twins for policy and regulation, such as the ability to test hypotheses regarding the impacts of changes on different organisations, specific geographic locations, and the energy system itself.

Digital twins involve a bidirectional data transfer between models and actual objects or systems.

This enables parties to comprehend the precise relationships between various energy system components and the effects of modifications on those relationships. It also promotes a shared comprehension of the energy system, its interrelationships, and the effects of its constituent parts, making the energy system more accessible to regulators and government officials and policymakers.

In addition to enhancing comprehension, the use of digital duplicates for policy and regulation may have multiple additional benefits.

This includes the ability to monitor specific government targets, such as overall emissions or investment levels in specific locations, as well as the capacity to measure changes in response to an intervention. 

National Grid ESO examined a notable instance of digital twinning, constructing a digital replica of the British energy landscape for data sharing, modelling, and predicting decarbonisation-friendly scenarios. This digital copy permits the examination of innovative methods prior to their full implementation and contributes real-time data on the status and operation of other system components.

In conclusion, digital twin technologies have the potential to transform energy policy making by providing a transparent and intelligible representation of complex energy systems.

By continuing to investigate and test the use of digital twin technologies, the government and regulators of the UK will be able to take advantage of the benefits this technology can offer.