Digital Twin for Real-Time Security Assessment and Flexibility Activation in the Bornholm Distribution System

TL;DR

This paper develops a real-time Digital Twin for active distribution networks, enabling security assessment and flexibility activation to mitigate operational violations using real measurement data.

Contribution

It introduces a Digital Twin framework that integrates topology and measurements for security assessment and control in active distribution systems, demonstrated on Bornholm Island.

Findings

Flexibility activation mitigates voltage violations effectively.

Operational limit violations are mainly due to voltage constraints.

The Digital Twin enhances system security and operational efficiency.

Abstract

The increasing penetration of distributed energy resources (DERs) is transforming distribution networks into actively managed systems, introducing challenges related to voltage regulation, thermal loading limits, and operational security. This paper presents the development and implementation of a real-time Digital Twin (DT) for security assessment and coordinated flexibility activation in active distribution networks, demonstrated on the Bornholm Island system using real measurement data. The implemented DT integrates network topology and smart meter measurements to perform security assessment under normal operation and N-1 contingencies, and to determine corrective and preventive flexibility actions using an optimization-based approach. Results show that load variation and contingency scenarios introduce operational limit violations, primarily driven by voltage magnitude constraints. The implemented flexibility strategy effectively mitigates these violations through coordinated active and reactive power control, enhancing system security and operational efficiency. The findings highlight the potential of DT-based approaches for reliable and flexible operation of future distribution networks.