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Predictive Maintenance and Digital Twins for Greener Power Generation: Case Studies from China, Germany, Norway, and the Netherlands

Received: 18 September 2025     Accepted: 4 October 2025     Published: 3 December 2025
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Abstract

Predictive maintenance (PdM), supported by artificial intelligence (AI) and digital twin methods, is gaining attention as a practical and cost efficient way to manage power generation assets. In the renewable energy sector, where performance, stability, and cost control are central concerns, PdM enables operators to anticipate equipment faults, schedule interventions more effectively, and reduce unplanned downtime. This paper reviews how such approaches are being applied in four different national contexts: China, Germany, Norway, and the Netherlands, and considers their contribution to cleaner and more reliable energy systems. The discussion highlights several patterns that emerge across these countries. In China, the rapid expansion of wind and solar capacity has driven the use of PdM to improve fault detection and optimize turbine and panel performance. Germany demonstrates how PdM can be integrated into broader energy transition policies, using digital twins and AI to balance fluctuating renewable output with grid demands. Norway shows the value of predictive tools in extending the life and efficiency of hydropower equipment, while the Netherlands illustrates the particular benefits of PdM in offshore wind projects, where remote monitoring and early fault recognition are critical. Evidence from these cases points to three consistent outcomes: improved uptime of renewable assets, measurable reductions in maintenance costs, and smoother integration of intermittent power sources through more advanced grid management. Taken together, these findings suggest that PdM is not only a set of technical tools but also a strategic component in building sustainable, resilient, and economically viable energy systems. Its wider adoption may help accelerate the transition toward low carbon power on a global scale.

Published in International Journal of Energy and Power Engineering (Volume 14, Issue 5)
DOI 10.11648/j.ijepe.20251405.11
Page(s) 115-121
Creative Commons

This is an Open Access article, distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/), which permits unrestricted use, distribution and reproduction in any medium or format, provided the original work is properly cited.

Copyright

Copyright © The Author(s), 2025. Published by Science Publishing Group

Keywords

Predictive Maintenance, Digital Twins, Artificial Intelligence, Renewable Energy, Smart Grids, Power Generation

References
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[3] Hamdan, A., Ibekwe, K. I., Ilojianya, V. I., Sonko, S. and Etukudoh, E. A. (2024). AI in renewable energy: A review of predictive maintenance and energy optimization. International Journal of Scientific Research and Applications (IJSRA), 11(1).
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[10] Bentley Systems (2022). POWERCHINA 80 MW Solar Digital Twin. Bentley Case Studies.
[11] CEIC (2022). Longyuan Power Wind Turbine Predictive Maintenance. CEIC Data.
[12] IEA (2025). Germany Energy Report 2025. International Energy Agency.
[13] Federal Government of Germany (2023). Nuclear Phase-Out Policy.
[14] IEA (2024). France Country Profile. International Energy Agency.
[15] BMWi (2024). Press Release: Germany & France Grid Flexibility. German Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Energy.
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[17] Fraunhofer ISE (2024). DeepTrack Solar Project. Fraunhofer Institute for Solar Energy Systems.
[18] NVIDIA (2023). Siemens Digital Twin for Energy Systems. NVIDIA Blog. Available at:
[19] Siemens Energy (2021). Predictive Maintenance in Hydropower - Flyer. Siemens Energy.
[20] IEA (2023). Netherlands Electricity Profile. International Energy Agency.
[21] IEA (2024). Netherlands Country Report 2024. International Energy Agency.
[22] TenneT (2024). Corporate Updates on Grid Operations. TenneT.
[23] RAP (2023). Transparent Grids Toolkit. Regulatory Assistance Project.
[24] em-power.eu (2024). Digital Twins in Power Grids.
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Cite This Article
  • APA Style

    Mammadov, A., Danilov, Y. (2025). Predictive Maintenance and Digital Twins for Greener Power Generation: Case Studies from China, Germany, Norway, and the Netherlands. International Journal of Energy and Power Engineering, 14(5), 115-121. https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ijepe.20251405.11

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    ACS Style

    Mammadov, A.; Danilov, Y. Predictive Maintenance and Digital Twins for Greener Power Generation: Case Studies from China, Germany, Norway, and the Netherlands. Int. J. Energy Power Eng. 2025, 14(5), 115-121. doi: 10.11648/j.ijepe.20251405.11

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    AMA Style

    Mammadov A, Danilov Y. Predictive Maintenance and Digital Twins for Greener Power Generation: Case Studies from China, Germany, Norway, and the Netherlands. Int J Energy Power Eng. 2025;14(5):115-121. doi: 10.11648/j.ijepe.20251405.11

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  • @article{10.11648/j.ijepe.20251405.11,
      author = {Agil Mammadov and Yaroslav Danilov},
      title = {Predictive Maintenance and Digital Twins for Greener Power Generation: Case Studies from China, Germany, Norway, and the Netherlands
    },
      journal = {International Journal of Energy and Power Engineering},
      volume = {14},
      number = {5},
      pages = {115-121},
      doi = {10.11648/j.ijepe.20251405.11},
      url = {https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ijepe.20251405.11},
      eprint = {https://article.sciencepublishinggroup.com/pdf/10.11648.j.ijepe.20251405.11},
      abstract = {Predictive maintenance (PdM), supported by artificial intelligence (AI) and digital twin methods, is gaining attention as a practical and cost efficient way to manage power generation assets. In the renewable energy sector, where performance, stability, and cost control are central concerns, PdM enables operators to anticipate equipment faults, schedule interventions more effectively, and reduce unplanned downtime. This paper reviews how such approaches are being applied in four different national contexts: China, Germany, Norway, and the Netherlands, and considers their contribution to cleaner and more reliable energy systems. The discussion highlights several patterns that emerge across these countries. In China, the rapid expansion of wind and solar capacity has driven the use of PdM to improve fault detection and optimize turbine and panel performance. Germany demonstrates how PdM can be integrated into broader energy transition policies, using digital twins and AI to balance fluctuating renewable output with grid demands. Norway shows the value of predictive tools in extending the life and efficiency of hydropower equipment, while the Netherlands illustrates the particular benefits of PdM in offshore wind projects, where remote monitoring and early fault recognition are critical. Evidence from these cases points to three consistent outcomes: improved uptime of renewable assets, measurable reductions in maintenance costs, and smoother integration of intermittent power sources through more advanced grid management. Taken together, these findings suggest that PdM is not only a set of technical tools but also a strategic component in building sustainable, resilient, and economically viable energy systems. Its wider adoption may help accelerate the transition toward low carbon power on a global scale.
    },
     year = {2025}
    }
    

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    T1  - Predictive Maintenance and Digital Twins for Greener Power Generation: Case Studies from China, Germany, Norway, and the Netherlands
    
    AU  - Agil Mammadov
    AU  - Yaroslav Danilov
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    JF  - International Journal of Energy and Power Engineering
    JO  - International Journal of Energy and Power Engineering
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    PB  - Science Publishing Group
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    AB  - Predictive maintenance (PdM), supported by artificial intelligence (AI) and digital twin methods, is gaining attention as a practical and cost efficient way to manage power generation assets. In the renewable energy sector, where performance, stability, and cost control are central concerns, PdM enables operators to anticipate equipment faults, schedule interventions more effectively, and reduce unplanned downtime. This paper reviews how such approaches are being applied in four different national contexts: China, Germany, Norway, and the Netherlands, and considers their contribution to cleaner and more reliable energy systems. The discussion highlights several patterns that emerge across these countries. In China, the rapid expansion of wind and solar capacity has driven the use of PdM to improve fault detection and optimize turbine and panel performance. Germany demonstrates how PdM can be integrated into broader energy transition policies, using digital twins and AI to balance fluctuating renewable output with grid demands. Norway shows the value of predictive tools in extending the life and efficiency of hydropower equipment, while the Netherlands illustrates the particular benefits of PdM in offshore wind projects, where remote monitoring and early fault recognition are critical. Evidence from these cases points to three consistent outcomes: improved uptime of renewable assets, measurable reductions in maintenance costs, and smoother integration of intermittent power sources through more advanced grid management. Taken together, these findings suggest that PdM is not only a set of technical tools but also a strategic component in building sustainable, resilient, and economically viable energy systems. Its wider adoption may help accelerate the transition toward low carbon power on a global scale.
    
    VL  - 14
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