Digital Twins for Creating Value Through “Buildings as Batteries” Using a Mass Customization Network

The Mass Customization Network (MCN), a central component of the Digital Twin Consortium’s “Buildings as Batteries” Technology Showcase, holds substantial promise for numerous stakeholders seeking to integrate their capabilities into real-world production environments, thereby advancing global infrastructure. Rooted in the principles of biomimicry, akin to the approach that underpinned the development of the global Internet, MCN was initially conceived during research conducted within the United States Department of Defense, with a primary focus on bolstering the resilience of military base infrastructure worldwide. Intriguingly, this concept is remarkably applicable to decentralized global infrastructure within urban settings, campuses, buildings, and transportation systems and extends its relevance to encompass energy and telecommunications systems. This chapter endeavors to construct a conceptual framework facilitating the synergistic alignment of Digital Twin and MCN, identifying critical knowledge gaps in domains related to Smart Grids, Buildings as Batteries, and Peer-to-Peer Energy Transfer. Additionally, the chapter offers an architectural overview of the framework designed to implement a pivotal phase in decentralizing the electric grid, specifically targeting the realization of Grid-Enabled Buildings, or “Buildings as Batteries.” To exemplify the value proposition of the Mass Customization Network, the conceptual framework is subjected to scrutiny through a use case analysis, concluding with a forward-looking agenda for future research and development in this domain.