What is a digital twin?
A digital twin is a virtual representation or model of a physical element, process or system that accurately reflects its current state and operation. It transmits information in real time with its physical counterpart so it is not a static replica, but an extension of its environment, allowing a process to be monitored remotely and in real time. It also allows to detect anomalies and failures in the system, to plan operational and predictive maintenance events, thus solving future problems in advance. This means optimising the operation of the system and, also, a reduction in maintenance costs, as well as simulating possible future scenarios to know the hypothetical operation of the system and the effect that certain parameters and factors would have, and thus be able to prevent anomalies, incidents or possible breakdowns.
Role within the project
H2VERDE will develop a digital twin of the hydrogen generation plant so that the plant can be monitored autonomously and remotely, allowing the detection of possible problems and points for improvement in its operation, as well as simulating and analysing future operating scenarios prior to the installation of new renewable generation prototypes in the PLOCAN test site. The digital twin will use real-time data on wind, solar radiation, waves and energy consumption of the platform, among others, to simulate the theoretical operation of the plant in terms of hydrogen (electrolyser) and energy (fuel cell) production, to check if there are differences between the theoretical and real production of the system and to identify the causes of the same (drop in performance of components, ageing, etc.).