Twin4Energy - Design of an Energy Management System for Road Tunnels

The Twin4Energy research project focuses on the development and testing of a digital twin for energy-efficient and sustainable operation of road tunnels. The project addresses the reduction of energy demand, which is a key priority due to the high energy consumption of tunnel infrastructure, particularly from safety and operational systems.

The main objective of the project is to optimise the tunnel’s energy performance by mapping key energy-consumption parameters in real time, systematically analysing and evaluating them, and identifying potential optimisation measures. To achieve this, the digital twin serves as an information model that integrates sensor data, operational information, and static design data. This enables a dynamic digital representation of the physical tunnel infrastructure and its energy-related characteristics.

The development of the digital twin begins with the identification of suitable functional blocks representing the relevant tunnel systems, including at least one major consumption area such as lighting, ventilation, or drainage. The aim is to implement a model-based analysis and evaluation environment that enables a distinction to be made between actual consumption and referenced target values.

By combining real-time data with operational and design information, the TWIN4Energy digital twin is intended to provide a basis for identifying energy-saving potential and supporting informed decisions for the more efficient and sustainable operation of road tunnels.