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POWER ENGINEERING: economics, technique, ecology
ISSN 1813-5420 · e‑ISSN 2308-7382 Open Access · CC BY 4.0
Vol. · Issue 3 · 2026 Oct 12, 2026 MONITORING, DIAGNOSTICS AND MANAGEMENT BY ENERGY PROCESSES AND EQUIPMENT

DIGITAL TWIN STRUCTURE FOR SHORT-TERM ELECTRICAL LOAD FORECASTING AT A DAIRY PLANT

AH
Andrii Hoienko Corresponding National Technical University of Ukraine «Igor Sikorsky Kyiv Polytechnic Institute», Ukraine
AC
Anatolii Cherniavskyi National Technical University of Ukraine «Igor Sikorsky Kyiv Polytechnic Institute», Ukraine
Pages119-129 PublishedOct 12, 2026 LicenseOpen Access
VOL · ISS 3 · 2026 85 View issue

Abstract

The study aims to develop a digital twin structure and a method for forming input data for short-term electrical load forecasting at a dairy plant, taking into account its current and expected technological states. The plant boundary is defined by the main electricity metering point, and the target variable is the mean active power over a 15-minute interval. Historical load, equipment and process states, product and buffer parameters, refrigeration conditions, the production plan, and calendar and weather variables are synchronized according to the time at which they become available. The digital twin converts measurements and planning records into a formalized technological context for the forecasting model. A functional structure linking primary data sources, the digital twin core, the forecasting module, decision support, and subsequent state updating is proposed. The composition of the current state, the expected state at the forecast horizon, and the complete model input vector is formalized. A rule is established according to which each forecasting sample contains only measurements, plans, and external forecasts available when the load forecast is issued. An illustrative one-hour-ahead example separates binary operation indicators, quantitative process variables, and refrigeration variables before combining them in the model input vector. The example demonstrates input formation only; a numerical load forecast requires a model trained on operating-plant data. The proposed structure provides a methodological basis for day-ahead and intraday load-profile forecasting, early detection of possible power-limit violations, coordination of flexible operations, and planning under restricted grid supply or on-site generation. Forecast accuracy and the practical effect of state-aware forecasting must be evaluated on a chronologically separated dataset from an operating dairy plant.

Keywords

References

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