Objectives
Developing a digital infrastructure (Digital Twin) that simulates the electrical energy system of a building complex.
Forecasting renewable energy production, balancing production and consumption, and estimating and optimizing energy load and any related storage.
Initial challenge
Climate change teaches us that the future of communities cannot be separated from new strategies for producing, optimizing, and using energy, focused on reducing waste and leveraging sustainable sources, in order to minimize dependence on fossil fuels.
One of the contexts where this need is particularly evident is in cities: this is why public administrations around the world are exploring innovative approaches to energy management, for example by creating energy communities — systems capable of optimizing energy production and consumption through load forecasting, storage, and needs-based energy distribution.
Among these projects is “D-SPINER” (“Digital Source of Power in Emilia-Romagna”), selected by IFAB through the “Call for Projects 2022” and part of the broader digital twin project for the city of Bologna, whose main goal is to create the Digital Twin of a physical building to make its energy management more efficient, more sustainable, and more interconnected with the urban context.
Solution
The “D-SPINER” project was developed around a specific building in the city of Bologna, the Lazzaretto, one of the University’s premises: starting from energy consumption data recorded by special sensors installed in the building, “D-SPINER” will create a “digital twin” capable of forecasting consumption and optimizing energy production and distribution.
How? Through the use of HPC (High Performance Computing) technologies, and specifically Machine Learning. A digital platform processes the data recorded by the sensors, producing a Digital Twin of the building that learns from the data itself, eventually developing forecasting models for energy needs over time. The goal is to arrive at a “fine-grained” model, capable of making forecasts over very short time units, down to 24 hours.
An interesting aspect of the “D-SPINER” project is the platform’s integration with “Vehicle-to-Grid” technology, which makes it possible to connect the building’s energy system with that of electric vehicles — cars and buses. In practice, when a vehicle is parked and connected to the electrical grid via special charging stations, its battery can be used as an energy storage system in service of the grid.
Benefits
Carrying out a project like this opens up numerous opportunities, for both public administrations and private entities. First of all, the building at the center of “D-SPINER” will be able to implement energy efficiency strategies useful for reducing the costs of producing and consuming electricity. But more broadly, the potential of “D-SPINER” extends to the entire urban context, if replicated in other buildings, other neighborhoods, or even companies and production sites. In this sense, the project represents a model of radical technological innovation, capable of revolutionizing energy production, consumption, and optimization strategies within cities.
IFAB’s role
IFAB took part in the project as a funding body, selecting it as part of its investment lines in research, innovation, and technology transfer. IFAB’s contribution consisted of recognizing the project’s scientific and practical value and providing financial support, making it possible to carry out the research activities conducted by the technical partners. This involvement confirms IFAB’s mission as an accelerator of high-impact initiatives for the local area and productive system.
Partners
For more information, contact: projects@ifabfoundation.org
