Is our grid system prepared to adapt digital twin as a enabling and optimizing solution?

Let me rephrase the headline: 'Are Grid Operator Managements Ready to Adapt Digital Twins for Handling the Challenges Imposed by the Net Zero Goals'.

Digital twins of the grid exist and have been in operation for long in the Scandinavian countries.

And currently we are seeing an increased awareness on digital twins based on the right platform as absolutely crucial in meeting the challenges imposed on utility grid operators. Allow me to link to a recent post in my LinkedIn profile on this topic:

Challenges like the aging workforce and the extensive implementation of new loads (consumption as well as decentralized production) to the existing grid.

The digital twin is not in itself the objective / goal. But it is an unavoidable prerequisite on the path to proactively operating our grid as outlined in this previous post here on energy central:

Substations yes. It has been done. Not by NYPA but I believe others have.

DERs maybe. I would refine DERs maybe. I don’t know the value of creating a digital twin for a single DER. You would have to mimic the grid.

Demand Response is not an asset. You can do analytics but I not familiar with the term digital twin applied to that.