The overarching objective of the Ensign project is the development and delivery of an Integrated Energy System-Digital Twin (IES-DT) for future, coordinated multi-vector energy systems, with novel capabilities to support design, development, delivery and operation of a reliable, resilient, affordable net-zero energy system.
It will accommodate and characterise: the massive future increases in electrification of heat and transport; the proliferation of low carbon technologies (LCTs) including renewable generation, storage in various forms, and hydrogen production, distribution, storage and consumption; and the changing role of gas in the energy portfolio.
There are multiple forms of Digital Twin (DT) for a wide variety of purposes, each with a specific set of characteristics to meet the required goals. All DTs have the following characteristics:
There are many definitions of Digital Twins, for example defined by the UK Government and by organisations such as the Alan Turing Institute. Many share similar attributes.
The project key benefits for SPEN
This project is a close collaboration between academia, the UK funding research agency Engineering & Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC), and industry. It is focussed on enabling and accelerating the energy transformation.
SP Energy Networks (SPEN) initialised the proposal and it was subsequently co-created with the academic partners (University of Strathclyde, Heriot-Watt University, Saint Andrews University and University of Liverpool) and other industry partners.
SPEN and the academic partners share the responsibility for delivery against the stated aims and objectives. SPEN, Strathclyde and the other academic partners have worked on more than 40 energy innovation projects over 30 years.
NESO’s transitional Regional Energy Strategic Plan (tRESP) is the first publication in the journey towards transforming and improving energy infrastructure at a local level, developing bespoke plans for Scotland, England and Wales.
The January 2026 Ensign Newsletter has arrived, bursting with updates! Catch up on the latest updates, insights and progress from the Ensign project
Ensign is proud to share that Professor Mercedes Maroto-Valer, Heriot-Watt University’s Deputy Principal for Global Sustainability and Co-Investigator of the Ensign project, has been awarded an Officer of the Order of the British Empire (OBE) in the King’s New Year Honours List 2026.
We are delighted to announce that Dr. Spyros Foteinis has joined the Ensign team as a Research Associate (WP5), bringing a wealth of expertise in environmental sustainability and climate change.
As we welcome 2026, we’re proud to reflect on a year of outstanding progress, collaboration and delivery across our programmes and partnerships.
ENSIGN WP5 (Industrial Cluster Sub Digital Twin) colleagues have published a new Green Corridors whitepaper.
As we approach the end of 2025, the ENSIGN project team would like to extend our warmest Christmas wishes to all our collaborators, partners, and supporters. The Ensign Project Team
Professor Qiteng Hong, Co-Investigator of the ENSIGN project, has been awarded an International Exchange Grant jointly funded by the Royal Society and the National Natural Science Foundation of China (NSFC).
The ENSIGN project is pleased to congratulate colleagues at Heriot-Watt University on their role in MaxStoreUK – Maximising the UK geological storage resource
Ensign’s Principal Investigator, Professor Campbell Booth, Co-Investigator Graeme Hawker, and Prof Mercedes Maroto-Valer are attending.
ENSIGN’s Principal Investigator, Professor Campbell Booth, and Co-Investigator, Professor Qiteng Hong, recently completed a research visit to China, reinforcing international partnerships in the transition to sustainable energy systems.
On Day 2 of Enlit Europe in Bilbao (19 Nov 2025), Dr. Omid Shahrokhi shared groundbreaking insights from the ENSIGN – IES-DT Project
Ensign is honoured that Mercedes Maroto-Valer, Co-Investigator on the Ensign Project, is part of the United Nations Council of Engineers for the Energy Transition attending COP30
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.
Today marks World Mental Health Day, a global moment to reflect, raise awareness, and reaffirm our commitment to mental wellbeing — not just today, but every single day.
Recent disruptions to electricity supply—from widespread outages in Spain to the Heathrow shutdown following a fire at the North Hyde substation—have highlighted the urgent need to strengthen resilience in our power systems.
Dr Qiteng Hong, Co-Investigator on the Ensign project, played a leading role at the eGrid 2025 conference, hosted at the University of Strathclyde in Glasgow, UK.
Catch up on the latest updates, insights, and progress from the Ensign project.
Mercedes Maroto-Valer, Director of the Industrial Decarbonisation Research and Innovation Centre (IDRIC) and Co-Investigator of Ensign WP5 at Heriot-Watt University, will be a featured speaker at the upcoming IEEE Technology Summit 2025: CleanTech Solutions, held in Glasgow on 2–3 October 2025.
We’re proud to share that Professor John Irvine (Co-Investigator, WP4 – University of St Andrews) was an invited speaker at the ECerS General Conference held on 1st September in Dresden, Germany.
Congratulations to Meng Zhang, Zhihui Li, and Zhibin Yu on their latest paper published in Energy and Buildings, Volume 344 (1 October 2025).
John Irvine was an invited speaker at AVL’s flagship event, Drive to Innovate, held at Silverstone International Conference Centre on Thursday 11th September 2025.
