Digital Twin Framework for Solar Power Plants in Kazakhstan

¹ Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering Department, School of Engineering and Digital Sciences, Nazarbayev University, Astana, Kazakhstan
² TechnoGroupService (TGS), Almaty, Kazakhstan

^* Corresponding author: essam.shehab@nu.edu.kz

Abstract

This paper aims to present a detailed Digital Twin (DT) framework indicating important implementation steps and providing insights into DT technology that improves operational efficiency, optimizes performance, and creates a user-friendly platform for real-time monitoring. This project is conducted in collaboration with TechnoGroupService (TGS) company, which specializes in constructing, operating, and maintaining solar and wind power plants in Kazakhstan. The development of DT framework was performed in four phases: project formulation and planning; conducting literature review and analysing the operational processes data transfer procedures of the 50 MW solar power plant; identifying the required specifications of the framework; the development of DT framework and implementation roadmap along with the development of a fully functional prototype. A detailed investigation of the 50MW solar power plant’s operational processes, equipment and sensors, communication networks and data models was performed. The developed framework provides a DT architecture with several layers, including physical infrastructure, data model, modelling and application of DT. Finally, the developed prototype is a handful tool for real-time monitoring and reactive maintenance of the power. The further applications of DT include predictive maintenance and power output forecasting. The obtained results have been reviewed by industry experts to ensure applicability and reliability.