Calculating Railway Station Power Usage in Advance with Digital Twin... Suseo Station Error Rate in the 2% Range

ESS could reduce peak demand by 20%
Ventilation fans account for nearly half of electricity usage

A new technology has been developed that enables railway stations to calculate, in a virtual space, how much electricity is consumed by specific facilities and to predict the savings that could be achieved by installing energy storage systems (ESS) or solar panels—all before making any actual investment.

The Korea Railroad Research Institute announced on September 15 that it has developed an "energy digital twin" model for Suseo Station, which recreates the station's structure and facilities in a virtual environment and integrates actual power usage data.

Suseo Station Energy Digital Twin Dashboard. A 3D screen overlaying sensor locations and temperature distribution on the geometric model. Provided by Korea Railroad Research Institute

Previously, energy consumption at railway stations was tracked only after the fact, using Korea Electric Power Corporation (KEPCO) metering data for the entire station. This made it difficult to identify the power consumption of individual facilities or to analyze the impact of introducing new equipment in advance.

The institute has created digital models for ten different areas of Suseo Station, including the main hall, transfer corridors, and lounges. Among these, three zones are equipped with sensors for temperature, humidity, carbon dioxide, and fine dust, enabling real-time indoor environmental monitoring since the end of May.

The developed model can calculate the predicted energy use for a full year within seconds, even when equipment or operational conditions change. When monthly electricity consumption over a year was compared to actual KEPCO metering data, the annual error rate remained in the 2% range. The model also satisfied Guideline 14 of the American Society of Heating, Refrigerating and Air-Conditioning Engineers (ASHRAE), which governs measurement and verification standards for building energy models.

In particular, an analysis based on actual load measurements at Suseo Station over one year showed that operating solar power and ESS could have significant effects. Applying a 250 kWh ESS is projected to reduce the annual maximum demand—which is the basis for electricity base rate calculation—by about 20%.

The model also revealed which facilities consume the most electricity in underground railway stations. Analysis showed that ventilation fans account for about 46% of Suseo Station's total electricity usage. This suggests that further energy efficiency improvements could be realized by optimizing the operation of ventilation equipment in the future.

The Korea Railroad Research Institute is systematizing the energy efficiency outcomes achieved at Suseo Station in partnership with Korea Railroad Corporation, and is considering expanding the application of these models to other large-scale stations such as the Samseong Station Complex Transfer Center. This major transfer facility, currently under construction beneath Yeongdong-daero in Seoul, will connect five rail lines across a site of approximately 210,000 square meters, with completion targeted for 2029.

Shin Seungkwon, the lead researcher at the Korea Railroad Research Institute, stated, "The core achievement this time is that, using a validated model, we can run simulations of facility investment and operational alternatives in advance. We plan to expand the sensor network, energy model, and operational scenario analysis—successfully tested at Suseo Station—to larger transfer hubs, further integrating rail and electricity infrastructure."

Sagong Myeong, President of the Korea Railroad Research Institute, added, "We will continue to develop technologies that improve energy savings and operational efficiency at railway stations, thereby contributing to reduced energy consumption and the realization of a carbon-neutral rail system."

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.