What is a Digital Twin?
A Digital Twin is a virtual representation of a real-world energy system.
In the Tibo Energy EMS, the Digital Twin is used to model and understand your customer’s energy system so the software can optimize how assets are controlled. You can think of it as a detailed digital copy of what’s happening on-site.
In simple terms:
A Digital Twin is the bridge between our control algorithms and the real kilowatt-hours flowing through your grid, battery, EV chargers, and PV installation.
How the Digital Twin works in Tibo Energy EMS
When you create a Digital Twin, you describe your customer’s physical energy system in a way the EMS can understand:
What is connected (e.g. building, EV plaza, battery, PV installation)?
How is it connected (e.g. to which grid connection)?
What are the limits and capabilities of each asset?
The EMS then uses this Digital Twin to:
Simulate different scenarios (for example, future loads or tariffs).
Decide optimal control actions (like charging, discharging, or curtailing).
Safely operate assets on-site according to agreed constraints and objectives.
Without a Digital Twin, the EMS would not “know” your system and cannot make informed decisions.
Example: a simple energy system
In a typical setup, you might have:
One grid connection – the main connection point to the public grid.
Several assets attached to that grid connection, for example:
A building (with its own consumption profile)
An EV plaza (charging infrastructure)
A battery (for storage and flexibility)
A PV installation (for local generation)
In the Digital Twin, these are all modelled as Assets connected to the grid connection.
Each asset type has its own behaviour and configuration (such as capacity, power limits, and control modes). These are described in more detail in asset-specific articles.
Why a Digital Twin is essential
You need a Digital Twin if you want to:
Simulate scenarios
Test “what if” situations for your customer’s energy system, such as:Changing tariffs
Adding or resizing assets (e.g. a larger battery or extra chargers)
Future load growth or additional buildings
Actively manage real assets with the EMS
Enable the Tibo Energy EMS to:Control your battery, EV chargers, and other assets
Stay within grid connection limits
Optimize for cost, self-consumption, or other strategies
In both cases, an accurate Digital Twin is the foundation for correct and safe operation.