Over the past two days, the ENSIGN project visited Heriot-Watt University, home of ENSIGN Work Package 5: Industrial Cluster Sub Digital Twin, to explore the research being conducted and its connections to other Work Packages.
The Work Package is led by Professor Mercedes Maroto-Valer and Professor John Andresen, with the research being undertaken by Dr Omid Shahrokhi. The Work Package is focusing on creating an advanced “Industrial Cluster Digital Twin”—a digital representation of large industrial zones. These zones often have complex energy systems, where multiple energy sources such as electricity, hydrogen, and heat are used.
The current focus of the research is the development of a digital twin for the Eden campus at the University of St Andrews, a low carbon exemplar which is home to a solar farm and a biomass boiler and also the industrial cluster on the Grangemouth INEOS site.
The first day was concluded with a tour of the Research Centre for Carbon Solutions (RCCS), an interdisciplinary world-leading engineering centre, inspiring and delivering innovation for the wider deployment of technologies needed to meet necessary carbon targets.
Launched by Professor Mercedes Maroto-Valer (FRSE, FIChemE, FRSC, FRSA) in 2008 with funding from the UK Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC), the Centre has grown to encompass 35 members of staff and students, having over 400 publications on carbon mitigation. The Centre has attracted more than £17m of funding since its establishment.
The Centre is home to five research themes:
