Document Type
Article
Abstract
The ability to forecast system conditions is integral to the definition and functionality of digital twins. While forecasting methods have been explored for use in digital twin systems, the integration of feedback mechanisms for real-time forecasting and in-situ decision-making in DC microgrids has not been extensively investigated. This research develops a modular forecasting framework tailored for digital twins in DC microgrids to enable real-time monitoring, online forecasting, and decision-making. DC microgrids, characterized by dynamic load variations, benefit from advanced predictive capabilities to maintain stability and operational efficiency. The proposed digital twin-based forecasting framework addresses these challenges by providing real-time predictive insights based on dynamic system conditions and a forecasting window defined by a decision-maker, facilitating proactive management strategies. Leveraging real-time sensor data, the digital twin forecasts system behavior under varying load conditions, enabling proactive management through real-time decision-making within operational constraints. As a proof of concept, the framework incorporates an electro-thermal digital twin designed to manage power flow based on thermal constraints in power distribution cables. Experimental validation using a simplified three-bus DC microgrid testbed demonstrates the effectiveness of the framework in enabling timely adjustments to power flows and preventing thermal overloads.
Digital Object Identifier (DOI)
Publication Info
Published in Scientific Reports, Volume 15, 2025.
Rights
© The Author(s) 2025 This article is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International License, which permits any non-commercial use, sharing, distribution and reproduction in any medium or format, as long as you give appropriate credit to the original author(s) and the source, provide a link to the Creative Commons licence, and indicate if you modified the licensed material. You do not have permission under this licence to share adapted material derived from this article or parts of it. The images or other third party material in this article are included in the article’s Creative Commons licence, unless indicated otherwise in a credit line to the material. If material is not included in the article’s Creative Commons licence and your intended use is not permitted by statutory regulation or exceeds the permitted use, you will need to obtain permission directly from the copyright holder. To view a copy of this licence, visit http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0/
APA Citation
Sado, K., Peskar, J., Downey, A., Khan, J., & Booth, K. (2025). A digital twin based forecasting framework for power flow management in DC microgrids. Scientific Reports, 15. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-025-91074-0