Collection of ENEA technology and expertise
Experimental Infrastructure and Digital Twin for Multi-Sector Energy Systems
Experimental infrastructure
Application sectors
Problem to solve
Energy networks are facing major challenges related to the ecological transition, renewable energy integration, system security, and operational efficiency. In Italy, these issues are further exacerbated by infrastructural heterogeneity, high energy consumption, and the need to achieve the targets defined by the PNIEC and the European Green Deal. In this context, Digital Twin technology represents an innovative solution for the design, management, and optimization of complex multi-sector energy systems through advanced simulations, predictive models, and optimization algorithms. The infrastructure also constitutes a strategic experimental ecosystem for validating innovative technologies under real operating conditions and supporting the evolution of future integrated energy systems.
Description
The infrastructure will incorporate a digital twin (DT) that integrates models and algorithms to optimize the planning and management of multi-vector energy systems. The DT will be connected, for the electrical part, to an experimental setup equipped with devices for emulating various energy entities, enabling the measurement of key physical parameters, as well as local control and automation. For the thermal part, the infrastructure will include a range of renewable thermal generation technologies (such as solar thermal and biomass boilers), alongside power-to-heat conversion systems (like heat pumps), thermal storage, and various types of emitters. This configuration will facilitate the testing of representative scenarios for multi-vector energy systems.
Innovative aspects and advantages
- Possibility to test strategies, models, and technologies in the context of multi-vector energy systems in operational scenarios representative of real cases
Admissible applications
- Provides a safe environment for testing technologies, training professionals and simulating critical scenarios to enhance system resilience
- Real-time monitoring, fault prevention, demand-supply balancing, and renewable energy management, improving storage, sector coupling, and the management of intermittent energy sources
- The Digital Twin (DT), developed at the DT ENEA laboratory in Portici, leverages advanced simulations and real-time control to optimize the sustainability, efficiency, and resilience of multi-vector energy systems
- The infrastructure includes tools for emulating energy entities, measuring physical parameters, and automating processes, integrating models and algorithms to plan and test multi-vector Smart Grids and Microgrids.
Research group involved
Revision date
11-05-2026
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