Digital twins could unlock hidden grid capacity
Neara’s Taco Engelaar says AI-enabled digital twins and stronger collaboration could reveal untapped potential in Europe’s electricity grids.
Image for illustrative purposes
Europe: Europe’s power grid stands at a crossroads. While renewable energy generation is rapidly expanding, the infrastructure that connects it to homes and businesses is struggling to keep pace. According to Taco Engelaar, an energy expert at Neara, digital twins and artificial intelligence could be the tools that bridge this growing gap.
Digital twins – virtual replicas of physical grid system – can provide unprecedented visibility of network conditions. By combining physics-based simulations with AI, utilities can model how assets behave in real time, identify weak points, and even predict how the grid will respond to extreme weather events. “To climate-proof the grid, we need tools that allow us to see and act before problems occur,” Engelaar explained.
Recent analysis by Neara found that up to 74 % of distribution networks in the UK and Ireland are underutilised, a trend that mirrors conditions across Europe. Uncovering this hidden capacity, Engelaar said, could ease grid congestion, reduce connection delays for renewable projects, and cut the need for costly new infrastructure.
However, technological innovation alone is not enough. Engelaar argues that collaboration and regulatory clarity are equally vital. Projects like TwinEU, which unite multiple grid operators under a shared digital framework, show the value of coordinated action. “To accelerate the energy transition, we need an environment that encourages innovation and open data sharing,” he said.
The shift towards AI-driven grid management will also require a new kind of workforce. Data scientists, LiDAR operators, and digital engineers will be as essential as field technicians. Engelaar remains cautiously optimistic: “If we align policy, technology, and talent, Europe can build a smarter, stronger, more connected grid, and reach Net Zero faster.”
Source: Enlit
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