A project from the University of Edinburgh looking to improve the energy efficiency of buildings using digital twins is among those that have received fresh funding from Scotland Beyond Net Zero (SBNZ), a coalition of universities aiming to help address the climate emergency.

The project, which also involves researchers from Edinburgh Napier University, will create digital twins to explore how improvements could be made across cost, carbon footprint and sustainable materials for existing building types.

Coupling state-of-the-art design software with experiential learning approaches, the project aims to upskill designers in the creation of energy-efficient buildings, allowing them to interact with the data-rich digital twin models using augmented reality technology.

The initiative is one of eleven new research collaborations selected for SBNZ’s second round of seed funding, with each project involving cross-sector collaborations to address sustainability challenges in sectors including energy, finance, food, the built environment, natural systems and transport.

Another collaboration between Robert Gordon University and Edinburgh’s Heriot-Watt University will develop a prototype digital marketplace for a reuse hub using blockchain and other emerging technologies to create a trustworthy, real-time tracking system for construction waste.

Robert Gordon will also work alongside Edinburgh Napier on the HI-SCOT project, which will explore sustainable urban development by blending advanced technologies and cultural preservation to tackle climate issues.

Focusing on integrating photovoltaic technology into Scotland’s historic buildings, it’s hoped that the venture could address challenges around aesthetics and public acceptance of PV in heritage buildings through research exploring the mimicking of traditional materials and coatings, minimising visual impact while supporting energy upgrades.

Meanwhile, a collaboration between Arbikie Distillery, Edinburgh Napier University and the University of Dundee will look at turning whisky production leftovers into compostable packaging, supporting a circular economy.

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The project, MycoPack, will use mycelium, the root structure of fungi, and distillery by-products like spent grain to create durable, lightweight packaging that is impact-resistant, fire-retardant, and fully compostable, providing an eco-friendly alternative to plastic.

“This is the second round of our seed fund, we have now supported 19 innovative and collaborative projects with a total of around £300k of funding,” said Professor Nick Forsyth, a vice-principal at the University of Aberdeen and chair of Scotland Beyond Net Zero’s seed fund.

“This collaborative and integrated approach is crucial to us meeting Scotland’s ambitious net zero targets. We cannot achieve these targets in isolation, we must work together to innovative, inform and adapt.”