IES develops digital twin to aid Stirling & Clackmannanshire

Climate tech company IES has developed a digital twin of the Stirling and Clackmannanshire region to aid in creating a pathway to carbon neutrality.

This initiative involves detailed 3D geometries of every building in the region, which spans an area of 2,413 square kilometres. The digital model is designed to inform an energy masterplan aimed at significantly reducing carbon emissions.

A digital twin is a dynamic virtual replica of a physical object, in this case, an entire region. This technology enables testing, modelling, and refining various parameters in real time. For buildings, these parameters can include energy usage, renewable energy generation, and heat networks, among others. The digital twin created by IES considers numerous factors affecting energy efficiency and emissions, such as building fabrics, heating systems, fuel types, and usages.

The Regional Energy Masterplan, which spans from 2023 to 2045, includes stages focusing on energy efficiency, heat management, and energy generation. Based on evidence from the digital twin, the masterplan outlines which low-carbon energy systems should be deployed and in what order to achieve the most effective results from economic, environmental, and social sustainability perspectives.

The simulations conducted by IES indicated that carbon emissions from energy used to heat and power both domestic and non-domestic buildings in the region could be reduced by approximately 98% by 2045 relative to a 2022 baseline. This reduction is expected to play a crucial role in meeting the region's goal of achieving net zero carbon emissions by 2045.

Craig McKendrick, public sector lead at IES, stated: "In a world where energy is vulnerable to socioeconomic and geopolitical factors, and we’re increasingly aware of our climate emergency, energy planning is a major public sector priority. The decisions we make now need to look at the long-term and be informed by the data. Accessing the evidence that intelligent tech now affords can be a game-changer when it comes to planning the route to improved efficiency and reduced emissions."

McKendrick added, “This project is a great example of two forward-thinking local authorities choosing to act on insight and ready themselves for the transition the region will need to go through over the course of the next two decades. By creating a digital twin of the entire Stirling & Clackmannanshire region, we can see how things are actually working in practice and identify what could be done to make the biggest impact in the most efficient way. It also helps us to model a range of prospective scenarios, identifying potential risks and barriers that could crop up along the journey to 2045.”

Stirling Council Leader, Cllr Chris Kane, also commented on the initiative: “By transforming our energy use and generation, we can protect the natural environment for future generations, reduce fuel poverty, and create new skilled jobs in a growing sector. Our road map to achieving these ambitions is the Regional Energy Masterplan. The importance of collaboration is at the core of the plan, and working with IES has enhanced our understanding of regional energy consumption on our journey to creating a net-zero energy system.”

He added, “We look forward to working with IES and other partners in the private and public sectors to successfully deliver the projects within the plan and secure affordable energy for everyone in the region.”

The digital model of Stirling and Clackmannanshire remains a live tool and will continue to be used by local councils to test future scenarios and gather data needed for informed decision-making. Following the initial project, IES is now developing business cases for two large-scale renewable projects for the councils.