Embedded Digital Twins: Transforming Power Without the Risk
Bob Yeager, president of Emerson’s Power and Water Solutions business, explains how embedded digital twin technology is transforming the power industry.
Why Digital Transformation Matters Now
The power industry is on the brink of transformation – and the stakes have never been higher. Yet the path forward is risky: upgrading control systems without compromising mission-critical operations remains a daunting challenge.
That's where embedded digital twin technology enters: a safer way to test, optimize and innovate without interruption.
An embedded digital twin lets power operators safely test innovations, optimize operations in real time and validate changes before deployment. It captures decades of institutional knowledge, accelerates team training and transforms digital transformation from a leap of faith into a measured, data-driven evolution.
The Problem with Legacy Digital Twins
At Emerson, we know customers want to test new protocols and processes to optimize their operations and embrace the digital transformation, but they want to do so with extreme care. After all, there is no margin for error in the power industry.
In response, many companies have started to implement digital twins – a simulation of a live plant that allows them to test proposed changes without compromising the real control system. But, testing in these digital twins, which exist in completely separate environments from the plant system, is an imperfect – and potentially detrimental – process. Because they only serve as a moment-in-time snapshot, they become rapidly inaccurate and obsolete from the moment they’re created. This creates the potential for issues emerging as the live system continues operating without being reflected in the digital twin environment.
Embedded Digital Twin: A Safer Path
Emerson's embedded digital twin technology solves this problem through a different approach. Using our integrated control and simulation platform, Emerson can work with companies to create an exact digital replica of the live plant that runs in parallel with the real control system. The digital twin and plant operate more as true twins – growing up together, experiencing the same environment. This removes time boundaries and makes it possible to avoid problems in live operations.
Key Benefits: Efficiency, Safety & Uptime
Emerson's embedded digital twin lets power operators work collaboratively to identify operating efficiencies, improve safety and decrease unscheduled maintenance throughout their digital transformation journey securely.
Each emerging technology brings with it a new promise of greater efficiency. The embedded digital twin makes it possible to safely test these possibilities while maintaining the integrity of a critical industry that literally powers the lives of billions. Technologies like the digital twin are poised to help the power industry truly embrace digital transformation – and realize the benefits.
Ready to learn more? Learn how Emerson's embedded digital twin platform works.
