Digital twinning as an act of governance in the wind energy sector

Abstract

Digital twins have emerged as novel technology in the wind energy sector that enables the design, monitoring and prediction of wind turbine performance. Despite growing attention on their potential, little is known about how digital twins are designed, by whom and how their design choices affect multiple aspects of decision making in the development of wind energy. Using a framework of co-production, this paper examines digital twins as boundary objects and the role of twinning as boundary work that involves an active process of design and affects multiple aspects of decision making in the development of wind energy. Our results demonstrate how the design of digital twins evolves throughout the twinning process, affected by regulation, choices of expert twinners on data and models, and what constitutes a matter of concern. We shed light on the role of these twinners in influencing which actors and their matters of concern are included and excluded during the twinning process. Our understanding of twinning as an active process of governance by design more clearly reveals how digital twins are not objective representations of reality, but a function of boundary work. We conclude that more transparency is needed over how digital twins are designed to enhance their role as technologies that foster a transition towards more sustainable energy systems and decision-making over wind energy technologies and their integration in landscapes.

Scrutinizing environmental governance in a digital age: New ways of seeing, participating, and intervening

“…A key question therefore is: for what are such automated decision-making systems optimizing, and who decides that? 91 Next to automating interventions, digital technologies and data processing are used to optimize decision-making processes at an individual level. For example, data analytics and digital devices can be used to support citizens to make more sustainable choices in their everyday lives through nudging 92 via digital means.…”

Framing the barriers to construction industry transformation

“…One barrier to implementing digital twins has been described as a need for a fundamental shift in current industry operations and processes (Hyre et al, 2022). Another barrier is the current limit in the knowledge surrounding the process and benefits the role digital twins play in design, planning and ongoing management (Solman et al, 2022). Via a comprehensive literature review the barriers to implementation have been categorised.…”

“…It is also argued the wider barriers to technological implementation include the attitudes of those tasked with implementing the technology, the attitudes of those who will be directly and indirectly impacted, the difficulty experienced in application and organisational cultural resistance to change (Liu et al, 2015). Confusion over definitions of digital twins, which can serve to limit people's awareness of the true benefits digital twins offer has also been described as a barrier to adoption (Solman et al, 2022).…”

Digital Twins for Wind Energy Conversion Systems: A Literature Review of Potential Modelling Techniques Focused on Model Fidelity and Computational Load

“…The aim of this review article is to present a possible implementation and structure of a digital twin, specifically for wind turbines of the modern direct-drive PMSG type. Digital twins of wind turbines can be approached in a broad sense, e.g., including their environmental, societal or legal aspects [26].…”