We’re excited to announce a brand‑new feature on the Ensign website — an Interactive Heating Costing Calculator designed to help users explore the true cost and carbon impact of different home‑heating options. This has been developed by WP3 – Heat Sub Digital Twin team at the University of Liverpool.
This easy‑to‑use tool provides an estimate of annual space‑heating demand for a typical UK home and compares the expected running costs and CO₂ emissions for three systems:
Simply enter:
The calculator then uses Heating Degree Days and a heat‑pump performance model to estimate annual electricity use, yearly costs, and carbon emissions — giving you a clear, data‑driven picture of your options.
Try the tool out today and let us know what you think!
Interactive Heating Costing Calculator
Your feedback helps us make it even better.
As we welcome 2026, we’re proud to reflect on a year of outstanding progress, collaboration and delivery across our programmes and partnerships.
Over the past year, progress against our original plan has been excellent, with milestones, objectives and deliverables being met in line with the project roadmap. Together, we have:
Achieved major delivery highlights, including
Collaboration at its best
Our entire team has worked extremely effectively, creating a positive environment that’s driving real impact. Engagement with our industry partners has been excellent and continues to provide valuable added insight, innovation and support.
Looking ahead to 2026
With a strong foundation and a shared commitment to quality and delivery, we’re excited to build on this progress in the year ahead. Together, we’ll continue pushing boundaries, strengthening partnerships and delivering meaningful outcomes for our clients and communities.
Wishing everyone a happy, healthy and successful New Year.
Here’s to a brilliant 2026!
Ensign’s WP5 (Industrial Cluster Sub Digital Twin) colleagues have published a new Green Corridors whitepaper, co authored by Professor Mercedes Maroto-Valer and Professor John Andresen from the Heriot Watt University, on how coordinated, place-based planning across energy infrastructure, demand and investment can accelerate low-carbon delivery.
The insights from the “Maritime Twin – Innovate UK Project: Green Shipping Corridors (GSCs) & Near Term Instruments for Decarbonising UK maritime Routes” whitepaper strongly align with Ensigns whole-system digital twin direction— linking networks, industrial clusters, flexibility and future demand to support better decisions across sectors.
SPEERI Annual Conference 2025: Catalysing Innovation Through Collaboration – Wednesday 26 November 2025
The Scottish Partnership in Energy and Engineering Research & Innovation (SPEERI) Annual Conference 2025 brings together academia, industry innovators, public sector partners, and government to explore the transformative power of collaboration in driving innovation.
Under the theme “Catalysing Innovation Through Collaboration”, this year’s conference highlights the critical role of cross-sector partnerships in addressing complex challenges across energy and engineering, accelerating the journey from research to real-world impact.
SPEERI represents the strategic integration of two of Scotland’s long-established collaborative partnerships—the Energy Technology Partnership (ETP) and the Scottish Research Partnership in Engineering (SRPe)—and comprises 14 Scottish universities working collaboratively with industry, public sector, and government to maximise impact in energy and engineering research and innovation.
What to Expect
Inspiring Keynotes: Professor Sir Jim McDonald GBE, Chair of SPEERI, and Richard Lochhead MSP, Minister for Business and Employment, Scottish Government.
Engaging Panels and Workshops: Explore successful collaborative research, share best practices, and forge meaningful partnerships.
Research Showcases and Exhibitions: Discover cutting-edge projects and innovations.
Ensign at SPEERI
Ensign’s Principal Investigator, Professor Campbell Booth, Co-Investigator Graeme Hawker, and Professor Mercedes Maroto-Valer are attending. Visit the Ensign stand to learn more about our project and how collaboration is shaping the future of energy and engineering.
Join us as we break down silos, connect across disciplines, and shape a future where collaboration drives change.
Dr Graeme Hawker, Ensign Co-Investigator and Work Package 1 Lead, has contributed to the Scottish Government’s forthcoming Climate Change Plan (CCP) — a strategic framework outlining how Scotland will meet its legally binding emissions reduction targets across all sectors of the economy.
Covering the period 2026–2040, the draft CCP sets the course for achieving Net Zero by 2045, where greenhouse gas emissions are balanced by removals. These targets stem from legislation passed in 2009, 2019, and 2024, and are informed by the independent Climate Change Committee.
Dr Hawker contributed as part of the UKERC researchers’ consortium, which collectively provided expert input to help shape the CCP’s direction and ambition.
To support parliamentary scrutiny, the Net Zero, Energy and Transport Committee launched a Call for Views, inviting input on sector-specific policies and ideas to ensure a just transition to net zero.
Dr Hawker’s involvement reflects Ensign’s commitment to shaping evidence-based climate policy and supporting Scotland’s ambitious decarbonisation goals.
The full UKREC response can be found on the UKERC website
