AVEVA, Schneider & Heriot-Watt back net zero twins

AVEVA, Schneider Electric and Heriot-Watt University have agreed to collaborate on digital twin technologies for net zero energy and transport infrastructure, with research and development centred in the UK.

The collaboration follows a memorandum of understanding between Heriot-Watt University and Schneider Electric UK, acting on behalf of AVEVA Solutions. It will examine digital energy systems, smart infrastructure, transport decarbonisation and sustainable campus operations.

The organisations also plan to strengthen links between industry and academia through research, student projects, internships and possible funding initiatives. The framework is intended to identify priority areas for joint work across research, innovation, skills and applied technology.

At the centre of the effort is Heriot-Watt’s Global Research Institute iNetZ+, which has been working on digital energy systems and transport decarbonisation. That expertise will be combined with Schneider Electric’s energy management and automation capabilities and AVEVA’s digital twin software.

The deployment is expected to include digital twin-based optimisation, data-led decarbonisation, and smart energy and transport systems in research and demonstration settings. It will also use simulation tools and industrial automation technologies.

The arrangement builds on existing ties between Heriot-Watt and AVEVA. Earlier projects included research into digital twin technologies for real-time monitoring, predictive maintenance, forecasting and operational optimisation in electrolysis systems.

That work reflects wider interest in electrolysers as policymakers and industry look to flexible operations to help integrate renewable power and support low-carbon hydrogen production. The latest collaboration expands the focus beyond hydrogen-related research to broader infrastructure questions in energy and transport.

Industry links

The agreement comes as universities and industrial groups seek to turn decarbonisation research into applied projects with commercial and policy relevance. Digital twins, which create virtual models of physical systems, are increasingly used to test operating scenarios, model energy demand and monitor equipment performance.

Supporters of the approach argue that digital modelling can help organisations run complex assets more efficiently and reduce emissions without disrupting operations. In sectors such as transport networks, industrial sites and campuses, that can mean testing changes virtually before making physical investments.

For Heriot-Watt, the collaboration extends a long-standing effort to work with industry partners in engineering and infrastructure. The university has a substantial international footprint and a research base focused on energy, engineering and related disciplines.

For AVEVA and Schneider Electric, the project also deepens an existing relationship. Both companies are active in software, automation and energy management, with digital tools playing a growing role in industrial decarbonisation strategies.

Lisa Wee, Chief Sustainability Officer at AVEVA, outlined the rationale for the tie-up.

“Achieving net zero across energy, industry and transport will depend on closer collaboration between policymakers, academia and industry. By harnessing the power of industrial intelligence and using simulation and digital twins to model organisations with complex systems, leaders can equip their teams to make better decisions and accelerate practical decarbonisation. Through this collaboration, we have an opportunity to connect policy ambition, academic research and industrial expertise to support the development of smarter, more sustainable infrastructure,” said Lisa Wee, Chief Sustainability Officer at AVEVA.

David Pownall, Vice President of Power Systems UK&I at Schneider Electric, said the work would explore how energy use can be improved across different settings.

“The transition to cleaner energy systems requires infrastructure that is not only more sustainable, but also more flexible, efficient and resilient. Combining Schneider Electric’s expertise in energy management and automation with AVEVA’s industrial software capabilities and Heriot-Watt’s research strengths creates a strong foundation. It enables the exploration of practical solutions to optimise energy use across complex environments, from campuses to transport and industrial systems,” said David Pownall, Vice President of Power Systems UK&I at Schneider Electric.

Professor Gabriela Medero, Associate Principal for Enterprise at Heriot-Watt University, said the university viewed the partnership as part of its wider role in applied research.

“Heriot-Watt has a long-standing commitment to working with industry to turn research into practical solutions for society. Through iNetZ+ and our wider work in energy and transport decarbonisation, we are focused on helping partners understand and address the complex infrastructure challenges involved in the net zero transition,” said Professor Gabriela Medero, Associate Principal for Enterprise at Heriot-Watt University.