Energy Use Prediction Model in Digital Twin

With the advent of the Fourth Industrial Revolution, the amount of energy used in buildings has been increasing due to changes in the energy use structure caused by the massive spread of information-oriented equipment, climate change and greenhouse gas emissions. For the efficient use of energy, it is necessary to have a plan that can predict and reduce the amount of energy use according to the type of energy source and the use of buildings. To address such issues, this study presents a model embedded in a digital twin that predicts energy use in buildings. The digital twin is a system that can support a solution of urban problems through the process of simulations and analyses based on the data collected via sensors in real-time. To develop the energy use prediction model, energy-related data such as actual room use, power use and gas use were collected. Factors that significantly affect energy use were identified through a correlation analysis and multiple regression analysis based on the collected data. The proof-of-concept prototype was developed with an exhibition facility for performance evaluation and validation. The test results confirm that the error rate of the energy consumption prediction model decreases, and the prediction performance improves as the data is accumulated by comparing the error rates of the model. The energy use prediction model thus predicts future energy use and supports formulating a systematic energy management plan in consideration of characteristics of building spaces such as the purpose and the occupancy time of each room. It is suggested to collect and analyze data from other facilities in the future to develop a general-purpose energy use prediction model.