Operational twin
Real-time situational awareness, topology, outage support, switching studies, voltage/overload detection, and operator advisory workflows.
TwinGrid Framework Architecture
Target architecture for utility digital twins
TwinGrid Framework Architecture converts business problems, use cases, data requirements, model governance, integration needs, and cybersecurity constraints into a target digital twin blueprint.
Architecture visual
Federated Twin Architecture for Utilities
TwinGrid frames the utility digital twin as a federated architecture, connecting specialized twins across operations, planning, assets, outages, DER, protection, training, and enterprise decision support.
Twin types
Federated, not monolithic
A utility may need several connected twins depending on operational criticality, model maturity, use cases, and cybersecurity boundaries.
Planning twin
DER hosting capacity, EV impact, electrification scenarios, long-term capacity, resilience, non-wires alternatives, and capital project prioritization.
Asset twin
Asset health, failure impact, criticality, maintenance prioritization, condition-based programs, and investment decisions.
DER, outage, protection, and training twins
Specialized twins can support restoration, DER visibility, protection coordination, disturbance review, and operator training.
Architecture package
Core architecture views
TwinGrid uses these views to make architecture understandable for executives, enterprise architects, IT, OT, cybersecurity, vendors, engineering, and implementation teams.
Architecture view
Executive target architecture
A one-page north-star view connecting utility business domains, source systems, the federated twin, and business outcomes.
Architecture view
Federated digital twin architecture
Shows that the utility may need connected specialized twins rather than one monolithic platform.
Architecture view
Layered logical architecture
Data source, integration, streaming, data platform, model management, simulation, analytics, applications, visualization, governance, and user workflow layers.
Architecture view
Physical deployment architecture
OT, OT DMZ, enterprise data center, private/public or sovereign cloud, DR, training/sandbox, and vendor access zones.
Architecture view
IT/OT/cloud cybersecurity zoning
Security segmentation, allowed/blocked flows, identity, monitoring, vendor access, and OT risk boundaries.
Architecture view
Source system integration
SCADA, EMS, ADMS, OMS, GIS, AMI, DERMS, EAM, CMMS, WFM, historian, protection, weather, finance, and regulatory systems.
Architecture view
Data architecture
Operational data store, historian replica, lakehouse, time-series database, metadata catalog, reference data, lineage, and quality services.
Architecture view
Model management architecture
GIS, EMS, ADMS, planning, asset, protection, DER models, validation, comparison, approval, repository, promotion, and rollback.
Architecture view
Model synchronization workflow
Source-system changes, staging, validation, difference detection, engineering review, simulation validation, approval, publication, and rollback.
Architecture view
Simulation engine architecture
Power flow, unbalanced distribution analysis, contingency, state estimation, short circuit, protection coordination, DER hosting, outage, asset risk, and training simulation.
Architecture view
Application portfolio
Operations, planning, asset, outage, DER, protection, training simulator, and enterprise cockpit applications supported by shared services.
Architecture view
Implementation roadmap
Phased architecture implementation: foundation, data/model readiness, first use cases, advanced analytics/simulation, and enterprise scale-up.
Decision domains
What the architecture must decide
Hosting and deployment
Cloud, on-premises, hybrid, OT restrictions, latency, availability, DR, data retention, and vendor access.
Model and data strategy
Source of truth, CIM, model versioning, synchronization, validation, promotion, rollback, data quality, and metadata.
Integration and APIs
Real-time streaming, event bus, batch exchange, APIs, file exchange, historian replication, operational safety, and advisory/control boundaries.
Cybersecurity and governance
Security zones, identity, role-based access, encryption, logging, monitoring, vulnerability assessment, incident response, and approval gates.