Edge digital twin for coordinating flexible resources in distribution networks with communication constraints

With the widespread integration of Controllable Flexible Resources (CFRs), distribution networks are progressively evolving toward multi-source global coordinated control, a paradigm that relies heavily on secondary communication networks. However, when communication becomes unstable, certain CFRs may become isolated as "information islands," rendering them unable to follow the control center's strategies for a period of time and thus posing threats to the operational security of the distribution network. To address this issue, this paper proposes an Edge-deployed Deduction Framework (EDF) within the Cloud-Edge-Terminal collaborative architecture (C-E-T), which consists of an Edge Digital Twin (EDT) and a Deduction Model for CFRs (DM4CFRs). By enabling local deduction based on limited but structured information retained at the edge, the EDF allows CFRs within communication-isolated areas to approximate coordinated operation even under prolonged communication degradation. A case study on a modified IEEE 33-node distribution network with multiple energy storage units demonstrates that the proposed framework maintains stable CFR operation during communication outages while preserving network security and economic performance.