Two Scottish firms are working together to highlight the potential environmental gains that emerging tech can bring to Glasgow buildings using a COP26 digital model.

Energy provider SSE and IES are looking to show off potential net-zero solutions using a newly developed ‘digital twin’ of the campus and venues.

It will be showcased at the UN’s climate conference and includes digital versions of the SSE Hydro, SEC Armadillo, SEC Centre, car park buildings, as well as the surrounding land.

Part of SSE’s AR Demonstrator Platform for Smart Cities, the virtual campus will give visitors a live representation of the site and allow them to “discover what future net zero solutions could look like,” as well as providing an understanding of how this could be achieved and what the results could be.

The AR rendering of the campus can be accessed using a tablet or smartphone camera which provides an on-screen display of the entire campus. Buildings or systems– such as water usage or smart lighting – can then be selected to discover the “breadth of green potential” within a live digital twin model.

Commenting on the collaboration, Don McLean, CEO at IES, said: “The digital twin we have developed with SSE has provided the opportunity to demonstrate how collaborations can unlock new thinking and drive forward novel approaches on the decarbonisation issue.

“In joining forces in this way, we aim to provide an example of what can be achieved and how end users can accelerate their own journey toward net zero.”

Digital twins are fast becoming a vital tool to reduce the climate impact of buildings and move us closer to net-zero. They use machine learning, artificial intelligence and physics-based simulations which mimic real-world equivalents.

They can also enable future scenarios to be tested and assessments to be made virtually, which are then used to inform and de-risk decision-making in terms of energy use, CO2 emissions and other aspects of the drive to net-zero.

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A recent report by Grand View Research suggested that the size of the digital twin market is anticipated to reach $86.09 billion by 2028.

Stephen Stead, director of strategy and digital services at SSE Energy Solutions, said: “COP26 gives us a great platform for engaging with the public and communities on the complex issue of climate change.

“Digital twins are a great way of demonstrating and communicating large complex scenarios to promote the message of decarbonisation as we all move towards net zero.

“With cutting edge technologies we can set the framework for decarbonising heat, power, and transport.”

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